Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.


Issues which may impact on fathers, mothers and caregivers of very young children and babies, including first time parents may include:
Lifestyle changes
Financial stresses
Housing
Social isolation
Levels of support
Extended family
Religious considerations
Cultural aspects of parenting and parenting across cultures
Family of origin and impact of this on own parenting styles
Relationship changes
Sleep deprivation
Economic factors (effect on standard of living)
Shift in power within the relationship, role changes, different division of labour
Potential for role uncertainty and role conflict within the family
Move from partners to parents
Breast feeding, support for breast-feeding,
Attachment between mother and baby and importance of this
Attachment between father and baby and importance of this
Relationships between siblings and baby
Maintaining relationship between father and mother after the birth
Intimacy
Value placed on the role of father, mother, caregiver
Levels of confidence in role of father, mother, caregiver
Emergence of values/family 'ways of doing things' which were previously irrelevant
Cultural differences in approach to father, mother and parent roles
continued ...
Issues which may impact on fathers, mothers and caregivers of very young children and babies, including first time parents may include:(contd)
Influences of extended family including grandparents
Circumcision
Shift in mother's attention from partner to infant
Young parents
Congenital abnormality or chronic illness
Developmental delays
Mental health
Post-natal depression for mothers and fathers


Family structures and backgrounds may include but are not limited to:
Step families
Adoptive families
Foster families
Chosen families
Same-sex parents
Extended families
Sibling families


Strategies to address or minimise the impact of relevant issues on fathers, mothers and caregivers may include
Developing a greater understanding of 'how it is' for the other partner, members of the family
Developing a greater respect for, and appreciation of, the value of the roles played by the other partner, members of the family
Time management skills
Honest, assertive and respectful communication
Active listening
The importance of compromise
Maximising equitable opportunities to sleep, rest or have quality 'down time' for all parties
Maximising equitable opportunities to meet personal needs of all parties
Building confidence and competence in parenting skills
Recognising the importance of the relationship between the partners and ensuring time to maintain this relationship


Unique roles of fathering and mothering may include:
The importance of early and effective attachment between fathers, mothers, other siblings and infants
Where fathers/ a father figure plays an active role in their children's lives this can have positive outcomes on the development of literacy, numeracy and social skills, self-esteem and the development of resilience in both boys and girls
The importance of strong father and mother roles in child/children's lives
The potential impact on child/children of post natal depression in mothers and fathers
The ability and will to commit to the physical and ongoing support that a father/mother provides and the involvement with the child/children throughout their lives
The capacity to make day to day decisions for the child/children that meet the children's needs
The ability to care about and attend to the important transitions in a child's life and work to provide the optimal conditions to maximise their growth
The ability to change and adapt as children grow older and the fathers/mothers mature in their relationship with their children
The ability to create resources for material well being and the resolution of problems that allow opportunities for the development of emotional well being
The ability to form lasting and healthy attachments with their children which can grow and change over time
The capacity to relate with children by sharing meaningfully with them, both verbally and non-verbally
Recognition of the impact on identity that fatherhood has on men and motherhood has on women
continued ...
Unique roles of fathering and mothering may include (contd):
Recognition of the roles fathers and mothers are assumed to have in children's lives
Recognition that parenting is a practice and not a biological function
Fathers/mothers may be:
birth fathers/birth mothers
step fathers/mothers
foster fathers/mothers
non-biological fathers/mothers
uncles/aunts
grandfathers/grandmothers
carers
Concepts of generative fatherhood may include
men want to be good fathers
assistance given to men to become better fathers needs to focus on removing the barriers to fatherhood
assistance given to men to become better fathers needs to focus on positive affirmation of the father's commitment to their children and participation in their lives
critical life transitions for example, separation, are viewed as opportunities to strengthen fatherhood
fathering styles may be influenced by how men were fathered and by their family of origin


Work with parents and carersmust include:
Understanding of the engagement and communication processes involved in helping
The skills and qualities to put these into operation.
Anticipated outcomes of work with parents and carers
The communication processes involved
The nature of the relationship with parents


Work with parents may include:
Consideration of current, relevant theories of families and parenting:
attachment
developmental - maturational (Gesell), psychosocial (Erickson)
family systems theory
ecological approach
psychoanalytic theory (Freud)
behavioural genetics
ethology and modern evolutionary theory
role socialisation/cultural theory
parenting styles
Consideration of current, relevant models for working with families and parents:
family partnership model
building strengths
solutions
social learning theory
educational
behaviour management


Strengths and areas for development as a father, mother, caregiver may include:
Empathy
Love
Good at listening
Good at anticipating the needs of others
Willingness to consider the needs of others
Ability to recognise own needs and ensure self care requirements are met
Good imagination
Patient
Can operate with very little sleep
Consistent in approach to things
Good at setting clear boundaries
Good at time and commitment management
Good multi-tasking skills


Strengths and areas for development as a parenting team may include:
Recognition of different values, beliefs, customs and parenting styles which may impact on children and raising children
Respect for differences
Ability to identify and articulate the 'non-negotiables' of own values and beliefs
Establishment of a united approach to parenting issues
Establishment of clear boundaries for children and consistent approaches between parents and over time
Examination of impact extended family and friends may have on parenting and family issues
Effective communication
Negotiate and compromise where possible and appropriate
Respect and care for each other and other members of the family
Establishment of healthy routines for sleep, diet and exercise


Cultural, religious, community and familial obligationsmay include:
Gender entitlements or roles
Immediate family
Extended family
Step family
Financial, social, emotional or support obligations
Celebrations
Economic support
Religious participation
Domestic support
Co-habitation and/or co-location
Specified work and support
Maintenance of language and cultural practices
Carer responsibilities

EVIDENCE GUIDE

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this unit of competency:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills in the application of working effectively with mothers, fathers and carers of babies and very young children
Evidence of competency in this unit will need to be assessed over a period of time in order to gather evidence of performance
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
Assessment must confirm sufficient ability to work effectively with fathers, mothers and carers of babies and very young children


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in community services should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged
Resource requirements for assessment include access to:
a relevant workplace or an appropriately simulated environment where assessment may take place


Method of assessment:
Evidence for assessment of competence may be gathered by appropriate combination of the following:
demonstration of competency within the working environment through working with mothers, fathers and/or carers of very young children
realistic simulations, projects, previous relevant experience or oral questioning on 'what if?' scenarios, case presentations, written assessment
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
The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate
Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language barriers other than English
Where the candidate has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment
Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role