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.


Adverse aspects of field living conditions may include:
Climate
Communication difficulties associated with language barriers
Compound living
Crowded conditions
Difficulties associated with cultural differences
Difficulties associated with the reality of poverty in the community
Exposure to stressful situations (e.g. human and animal distress and death, and destruction of property)
Government or internal organisation bureaucracy challenges
Isolation
Lack of availability of dietary preference (e.g. vegetarian workers in pastoral community may need to eat meat as their main diet)
Lack of communication infrastructure (e.g. telephone and internet)
Lack of control over dietary practices and intake, including frequency or variety in food
Lack of personal security
Lack of privacy
Lack of recreational opportunities or free time
Lack of security of belongings
Limited access to safe transport
Long working hours
Poor access to fresh and/or hot water, including opportunities to bathe or wash clothing
Poor communications infrastructure resulting in lack of contact with support networks
Poor general infrastructure (e.g. roads, electricity and fuel)
Poor standard of accommodation
Possible personal injury through disease or violence


Take action to prevent or minimise various risks may include:
Actions and strategies required or recommended by specific organisation, program and/or community contacts


General health risks within the field environment may include:
Cholera
Dehydration
Dengue fever
Heat stroke
Hepatitis
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmissible diseases (STDs)
Lack of sleep
Malaria
Other diseases or conditions that may pose a health risk at a specific time in a specific location
Poor food and water quality


Field environment may include:
Conditions which are encountered while living and working in a development and/or humanitarian assistance context, which may be:
away from a permanent base
relatively permanent for those working in a development context for years at a time
Field conditions vary depending upon the infrastructure available
In some cases, field conditions may be relatively comfortable, but field conditions to which this unit refers commonly involve adverse conditions
The most severe sets of field conditions are likely to occur during complex humanitarian emergencies (CHE), which:
is characterised by large-scale deterioration in the economic, political and/or social spheres
may be the direct result of serious problems in only one sphere, but most often is the result of a combination of factors working together to create problems in more than one area
may be caused by major natural or man-made disasters and usually affect a population of more than 50,000 people
may be slow or sudden in their onset
may be declared when two of the following pre-conditions exist:
large scale displacement of population
breakdown in economic system
breakdown in civil order
famine preconditions


Inappropriate use of drug and alcohol may include:
Any use of drugs or alcohol in certain cultural and legal circumstances
Drunkenness
Alcoholism
Operating in work role while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Use of stimulants to extend working hours or energy levels
Use of drugs or alcohol as a field environment coping mechanism
In some cultural circumstances, consumption of alcohol or other drugs such as kava or betel-nut may be a major aspect of social interaction, and abstinence from alcohol may reflect negatively on the individual, the organisation and staff


Risks associated with inappropriate use of drug and alcohol may include:
Cultural offence
Prohibition of alcohol within certain countries
Severity of sentencing laws in relation to drug and alcohol offences in certain countries
Breach of contract of employment and lack of organisation's legal liability protection
Damage to own physical health
Inability to operate effectively while influenced by drugs or alcohol
Damage to own reputation and freedom to operate
Damage to organisation's reputation and freedom to operate


Unsafe and inappropriate sexual activity may include:
Unprotected sex
Sex with target group e.g. refugees
Sex with co-workers


Risks associated with unsafe or inappropriate sexual activity may include:
Sexually transmitted diseases (e.g. HIV/AIDS, gonorrhoea and syphilis)
Pregnancy
Cultural offence
Legal sanctions
Damage to own reputation and freedom to operate
Damage to organisation's reputation and freedom to operate


Healthy dietary practices may include:
Eating regularly and attempting to achieve a balanced diet
Maintaining adequate level of calorie intake
Maximising variety of food eaten
Maximising intake of fresh fruits and vegetables


Healthy exercise practices refer to:
Physical activities that help maintain fitness, build endurance, strengthen and maintain tone of muscles for example, stretching, walking, running and swimming


Personal psychological needs refer to:
Those particular needs which are characteristic of the individual
They will vary from person to person, but each individual should be able to describe their own key needs, which might include:
daily time alone
social interaction with others
opportunity to laugh
maintaining a routine
maintaining regular contact with personal support network, such as:
family
friends
work colleagues
religious organisation
sporting or common interest groups


Expressions of grief may include:
Anger
Anxiety
Change in worldview
Chronic sorrow
Confusion
Depression
Despair
Drop in self-esteem
Fear of going mad
Feeling unable to cope
Guilt and remorse
Helplessness
Hopelessness
Loneliness
Questioning of values and beliefs
Relief
Shock and disbelief
Suicidal ideation


Personal security risks may include risk of:
Assault
Mugging
Kidnap or being held hostage
Landmines
Bombs
Vehicle accidents
Issues that may lead to evacuations - including threat of fire, volcano, flood, earthquake, war and civil unrest


Appropriate action to handle situations of risk may include:
Building rapport
Defusing risky situations
Evasive action
Disarming techniques
Maintaining appropriate physiology


Signs of stress may include:
Physical symptoms such as:
gastrointestinal:
dry mouth
impression of having one's heart in one's mouth
nausea
vomiting
sensation of bloating
heartburn
abdominal pain
appetite changes
diarrhoea
constipation
cardiovascular:
elevated blood pressure
rapid heart beat
hot flushes
cold hands and feet
sweating
respiratory:
breathlessness
panting
sensation of not being able to breathe
musculoskeletal:
cramps
back pain
trembling
nervous ticks
grimacing
neurological - headache
Psychological symptoms such as:
emotional:
anxiety
anguish
behavioural:
sleep problems
abuse of cigarettes, alcohol or drugs
modification of one's libido
intellectual:
concentration difficulties
memory difficulties
problems with reasoning and verbal expression
[Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies, 2nd Ed. p. 321)]
Signs of acute stress may include:
paranoia
depression
emotional numbing
hyperactivity
exaggerated humour
poor anger management
mood swings
pronounced memory difficulties
inappropriate risk taking
inability to undertake routine duties


Traumatic stress:
Is brought on by critical incidents, especially those which are unexpected and emotionally powerful
Responses to traumatic stress are similar to those above for stress, but may be more pronounced (e.g. vomiting instead of nausea)


Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):
Is a clinical diagnosis which should be made by a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist
Signs of PTSD include:
invasive memories (flashback), nightmares and sleep disturbance
repeated reliving of the event
detachment
avoidance of trigger persons or situations
hyper-arousal
anxiety
depression
grief
anger
suicidal thoughts
reactions intensifying over time
clear alteration of personality
withdrawal from others
continued rumination about the event
constant expectation of a new disaster
persistent sleep difficulties
phobia formation
reactions continuing for 3 - 4 weeks
[Source UNHCR Handbook for emergencies, symptoms based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version Four (DSM-IV)]


Appropriate action to prevent or minimise harmful stress may include:
Understanding that:
reactions to stress are normal
responses to critical incidents are sometimes delayed
cumulative (or chronic) stress builds up over time
those experiencing stress are not the best judges of their own ability to cope
Gathering information on local conditions (language, culture) prior to arrival
Getting enough sleep
Eating regularly
Controlling intake of alcohol, tobacco, medicines and/or drugs
Taking time for rest and relaxation and for physical exercise (20 minutes per day)
Giving expression to stress through:
conversation
counselling
diary-keeping
artistic expression
Critical incident defusing or debriefing sessions


Critical incidents in the field may include but are not limited to:
Being a powerless witness of violence
Being a victim of violence, sexual assault and/or bullying
Death or injury of a colleague
Deaths of children
Hostage taking
Personal injury
Seeing or being associated with a tragic event accompanied by intense media coverage (especially if media coverage is inaccurate or misleading)
Undergoing great personal risk


Organisation support systems and personnel may include:
Work colleague networks
Communication with personal support networks from the field
Regular mail from home
Regular news and information from home (e.g. newspapers and magazines)
Human resources staff
Religious leaders and/or lay workers
Regular 'Rest and Recreation' opportunities
Debriefing after every field placement
Access to Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for rape treatment, if not provided by own agency, then link with the nearest United Nation office. See detail at: http://unworkplace.unaids.org/UNAIDS/basics/post-exposure-treatment.shtml

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
The application of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace
Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in development and humanitarian assistance should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) environments
In particular workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues facing the people and culture in which they are working
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues relating to the culture in which they are working


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit may be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other related units of competency is encouraged
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context
Resources required for assessment include access to:
workplace location or simulated workplace
specifications and work instructions
policy manuals and procedure manuals (international and local, including sector specific manuals)
relevant documents (such as staff assessments, memos, leave records and performance reviews)
relevant equipment (such as vehicles, office equipment and communications equipment)
managers, co-workers and other staff


Method of assessment may include:
Assessment needs to take into consideration the practical difficulties associated with attempting on-the-job assessment in the field
Given the nature of this unit, candidates should be expected to present evidence from within a real field environment
If this is not possible, demonstration of some performance criteria in this unit may be achieved through observing the behaviour and responses of the candidate under a stressful situation similar to those likely to be encountered in the field
While it is unethical and inappropriate to place a candidate in real danger, a life-like simulation may provide the best opportunity to observe 'near-real' responses
The use of third party and self-reflective evidence for assessing this unit is preferred
Underpinning knowledge may be assessed through:
written assignments
project reports
debriefings
action learning projects
Assessment should be supported by supplementary evidence from a wide range of sources, preferably including evidence from one or more field situations
Completed Security and Safety training (e.g. Red-R 'Personal Security and Communication' training: http://www.redr.org.au/training/training-courses/61-personal-security-a-communications)