Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement explains the scope and context of the unit of competency allowing for differences between workplaces. The scope of variables chosen for training and assessment requirements will depend on the particular work situation.

Key people within a community include:
Community elders
Community councils
Various community groups representing cultural, sub-cultural, sub-cultural, religious, social, ethnic, gender, sexual identity, and age groupings within the community
Support groups such as survivors/victims of violence groups, drug and alcohol groups, community houses, women's networks and refuges, professional associations
Government representatives and service providers
Family members, friends, care-givers
Authorities responsible for provision of community and justice administration services, for example, local councils, legal services, such as legal aid, and state and commonwealth agencies
Acknowledged domestic violence specialists and other specialists
Acknowledged language experts/translators/interpreters

Community may relate to a specific location, language/cultural or social structure and include:
Traditional
Rural, regional, or metropolitan
People with specific needs
Groups defined by organisational programs and services

Methods used to collect information could include:
Interviews with clients, family, significant others and carers
Questionnaires
Applications and other forms
Case documentation
Using specialist communicators
Reports by other people
Classification tools
Information from professionals including medical reports
Information from various service providers

Support may be provided through internal or external services and could include, but is not limited to:
Safety and physical and emotional security
Economic support
Protection from financial exploitation
Legal or medical information and support
Accommodation/transportation
Access to services/information
Ongoing assessment
Specialist services
Educational materials
Referrals to specialist services
Community awareness programs/education
Qualified and appropriate interpreters
Provision of assistance to address issues, gather information and locate other resources
Support from community, extended family members, friends and elders
Advocacy

Client/s could be:
Individuals (inclusive of children, youth, adults and the aged)
Referred or self-referred
People with specific needs
Voluntary or involuntary
Family members and significant others
Community groups

Restrictions and protocols may relate to, but are not limited to:
Family relationships and structure
Cross-gender communication
Worker's role in the community
Working with people whose primary language is a language other than English

Work may relate to:
Specific groups, issues, or communities eg. Health issues of young people from particular cultural backgrounds and/or geographical areas, disability issues, mental health issues etc
Research activities
Policy development
Individual casework
Community development
Child protection work
Referrals
Provision of information/materials
Project development and implementation
Organisational standard

Specific needs relating to clients may include, but are not limited to those:
Who have a disability
Who are aged or young
Who live in a remote or rural location
Who are in same-sex relationships
Who are of a particular gender
With a dual diagnosis
Whose religious beliefs or practices need to be considered
Who have addiction or dependency issues
Who have mental health issues

Interpersonal skills may include:
Means by which an emotionally safe and empathic environment is created
Means for communicating with people with disabilities or where English is not the first language
Methods of communicating with different age, religious, gender and sexual identity groups
Non-judgemental communication techniques
Using strategies that empower client to ensure safety of client and family
Cultural, sub-cultural awareness/sensitivity
Demonstrating empathy
Using appropriate body language
Reflecting, summarising and paraphrasing
Asking open-ended questions
The ability to ask direct questions about violence in a sensitive and appropriate way
Using conflict management skills if appropriate
If needed, use of a qualified interpreter whose involvement will not jeopardise the safety of the client and/or client's family
Recognition of client/worker power differences
Maintaining confidentiality
Active listening

Risk may refer to client, client's family and/or worker and be indicated by the following:
Self identification of risk
Evidence of physical injuries
Threat to safety
Current or previous criminal charges for assault of client by partner/ex-partner
Current or previous police involvement
Objective assessment of client's current ability to protect self and children from further assault or harm
Threat or attempts to self-harm
Feelings of depression, anger, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, emotional distress or sleep disturbances
Medical problems such as overuse of tranquillisers, or alcohol, drug or substance abuse
Intimidation and harassment
Client being denied access to funds, resources or medications
Existing or previous orders relating to domestic violence (eg. Apprehended violence order), or breach of orders
Avoidance of discussion regarding possible abuse
Implausible explanation for injuries
Repeated requests for financial assistance
Other factors that may indicate a history of violence
Children's behaviour and developmental level
Current behaviours of user of violence
Frequent hospital visits/admissions
Current or previous separation
Family court and/or relationship history
Implied or actual threats to harm the worker by user of violence

Rights and responsibilities may include:
Rights of safety
Rights under common law
Rights outlined under relevant standards/principles and charters (eg. Un declaration on rights of the child)
Rights under the constitution
Rights and responsibilities under legislation (eg. Freedom of information legislation, child protection act)
Guidelines relating to parameters of confidentiality/client consent
Worker's code of ethics
Rights of victim to crime compensation

Organisational standards and procedures may include those relating to:
Client and worker safety
Collection and storage of information
Client interview protocols and procedures
Code of conduct/code of ethics
Principles and implementation of duty of care and rights of client to self determination
Departmental, inter-departmental regulations, protocols and procedures relevant to work role and responsibilities
Organisational mission statement and/or philosophy
Inter-agency practice and protocols
Assessment for eligibility to access particular services
Completion of forms and applications
Use of interpreter and interpreter services
Guidelines relating to parameters of confidentiality/client consent
Occupational health and safety

Legislative and statutory requirements may include:
Relevant State/Territory/Commonwealth legislation (eg. Domestic Violence, Guardianship, Disability Services, Immigration, Anti-Discrimination, Racial Discrimination Act, and Anti-Vilification legislation, Child Protection, Legal Practice legislation)
International conventions relating to the rights of children and young people
Relevant international conventions on civil and human rights
Freedom of Information legislation

The Evidence Guide identifies the critical aspects of assessment, and the essential knowledge and skills to be demonstrated to confirm competency in this unit. The Evidence Guide is an integral part of the assessment of competency and it should be read carefully in conjunction with the Range Statement, elements and performance criteria.
Critical aspects of assessment:
Assessment must confirm sufficient ability to use skills and knowledge to provide domestic violence support in NESB communities.
Assessment of performance should be over a period of time covering all categories within the Range Statement statements that are applicable in the learning environment.

In particular, assessment must confirm the ability to:

Develop and maintain working relationships with key people within the community to promote domestic violence services and engender their confidence and support
Identify the information needs of the community relating to domestic violence using appropriate research and evaluation techniques
Adapt work processes as appropriate depending on specific cultural and linguistic needs that does not compromise the safety of workers and client's
Facilitate resolution of issues by using appropriate interpersonal methods which are appropriate to the community and the individual's specific circumstances
Depending on the work program or services provided apply specific knowledge of particular groups or issues (eg. Alcohol and other drugs, same-sex relationships, religious, survivors/victims, users of violence, mental health etc.)
Identify indicators of domestic violence and their likely impacts on the person affected by domestic violence
Accurately interpret and comply with legal and procedural requirements.

Interdependent assessment of units:

This unit must be assessed after, or in conjunction, with the attainment of competency in the following unit(s):

CHCDFV2A - Manage own professional development in responding to domestic and family violence

For the purpose of integrated assessment, this unit may be assessed in conjunction with the following unit(s):

CHCDFV3A - Provide crisis intervention and support to those experiencing domestic and family violence
CHCAD1A - Advocate for clients
CHCCS2A - Deliver and develop client service
CHCCM2A - Establish and monitor a case plan

Essential knowledge:
Knowledge of the social, historical, political and economic context of domestic violence, including myths, unhelpful beliefs, attitudes and practices, power and control, gender, child abuse and criminal issues relating to domestic violence, and their affects on individual's right to safety and autonomy
Understanding domestic violence indicators and procedures for undertaking assessment of client needs
Knowledge of the impacts of cultural, sub-cultural, social, gender, age, religious, sexual identity, disability, language issues etc on attitudes towards domestic violence
Knowledge of the cultural and language groups represented within the local/regional community, and an understanding of their values and beliefs
Understanding of how to communicate with the community (adaptation of language and dialects, verbal and non-verbal, spoken languages, use of interpreters)
Understanding of current organisational procedures, practices and standards for client assessment, allocation of services, case management, interviewing and liaison, code of conduct, community development and involvement, confidentiality, use of resources, programmed intervention and duty of care requirements
Knowledge of domestic violence and community services and ethno-specific services available and more generalist nesb services within the local/regional area
An understanding of the key people and groups within the community and relevant protocols for consultation and decision making
Knowledge of structural barriers and their impact (eg. Institutional racism) and their effects on people from non-English speaking backgrounds accessing services
Understanding of specific limitations of work role, responsibility and professional abilities
Awareness of own values and attitudes and their potential impact on clients
Knowledge of applying community development principles and strategies

Essential skills:
Research skills involving analysis and evaluation for identifying domestic violence information and resource requirements of the community
Leadership skills relating to providing guidance to help achieve outcomes and gain agreement on concepts which are required to enlist support from key people and groups within the community
Problem solving skills for a broad range of unpredictable problems involving analysis, assessment, evaluation and the development of new ways of delivering domestic violence services which address the specific cultural needs of the community
Assessment skills, such as to assess the need to use an interpreter/interpreting services and identify qualified and appropriate interpreters/interpreter services
Basic counselling skills such as questioning and active listening (paraphrasing, clarifying, summarising, story telling) techniques, including non-judgemental and empathic approaches to provide a first point of contact
Literacy and communication skills in relation to presentation of information in a manner appropriate to the culturally and linguistically diverse needs of the community
Ability to understand and apply knowledge of cultural issues without stereotyping or homogenising the client/client group
Skills in responding sensitively to disclosures and ability to maintain confidentiality when working with people affected by domestic violence.

Resource implications:
Where assessment is conducted within the workplace there are no resource implications above those normally available in the workplace.
Where assessment is conducted in a simulated or non-workplace environment then access to the necessary equipment and research resources should be provided. Access to simulated exercises, case studies related to service delivery issues will also be required if non-workplace assessment paths are utilised.

Consistency in performance:
Evidence of competency in this unit will need to be assessed over a period of time in order to gather evidence of performance over the Range Statement. This will include contexts applicable to the work environment, such as actual or simulated workplace situations involving a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary forms of evidence.

Context of assessment:
Evidence will be determined by selection from the Range Statement, justified in terms of work requirements, work roles and responsibilities and occupational specialisations.

Evidence for assessment of competence may be gathered by appropriate combination of the following:
Demonstration of competency within the working environment in working with NESB communities to provide domestic violence support
Assessment must be in the workplace. However, where there is not an opportunity to cover all of the Range Statement statements in the work environment, the remainder should be assessed through realistic simulations, projects, previous relevant experience or oral questioning on "What if?" Scenarios
Observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questions on Essential knowledge and skills and consideration of required attitudes
Where performance is not directly observed and/or is required to be demonstrated over a period of time and/or in a number of locations, any evidence should be authenticated by colleagues, supervisors, clients or other appropriate persons
Review of any documentation produced by the candidate related to working with NESB communities to provide domestic violence support.