Elements and Performance Criteria

Families may require support as a result of:
Isolation due to distance, language, circumstances
Additional needs of their child
Not yet communicating in English
Crises and emergencies

Support may be provided by such means as:
Toy libraries
Mobile services
Play groups
Home visiting
Respite care
Advice and information
Referral

Language and communication which will suit a family's needs may require:
Language other than English
Interpreter
Informal, colloquial style or formal style of conversation

Strategies to develop trust in the service may include:
Developing a rapport with the child first
Remembering and using names of the child/children on each visit and using information gathered previously
Offering non threatening assistance in the first instance eg toys

Information may be provided to parents about:
Resources available in the community
Development opportunities for the child available in the community
Where resources/materials may be purchased or borrowed
The child's development, needs and abilities

Critical aspects of assessment:
Demonstrated ability to develop a collaborative working relationship with parents to enhance parents' caring abilities

Interdependent assessment of units:
Competence in CHCRF11A "Work in partnership with families to care for the child" is a prerequisite for this unit

Essential knowledge:
Parent's experiences of parenting - anxieties, guilt
Impact of isolation on families and children - geographic, social, economic, cultural isolation
Community networking
Community resources
Stress management and debriefing strategies
Problem solving
Organisational standards, policies and procedures

Essential skills and attitudes:
Non judgmental listening
Cross cultural communication
Use of interpreters
Basic counselling skills
Appropriate self disclosure and openness when communicating with parents
Empathy with parent/s who are isolated or experiencing severe levels of stress
Skills to build rapport and trust
Empowerment
Adaptability and flexibility

Resource implications:

Assessment requires access to a range of opportunities defined in the Range Statement. These includes:

A childcare workplace
Access to children's services, resources and equipment
Access to the local environment

Context of assessment:
This unit could be assessed on the job or off the job through an appropriate workplace simulation for a range of age groups and a range of conditions over a number of assessment situations