Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

DEFPS002 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Conduct a mental health screening interview

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency DEFPS002 - Conduct a mental health screening interview
Description This unit covers the competency required to conduct a mental health screen within the Australian Defence Force. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication. In a Defence context, this means that there is no civilian need to hold this unit in order to meet licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit was developed for military personnel required to prepare and conduct of a mental health screening interview for an ADF member. It also includes completing all post-screen administration.The persons performing these tasks will be employed within a specialised employment field relating to the practice of ADF psychology. The person will perform these tasks under supervision of a Mental Health Professional. A mental health screen is typically conducted for ADF personnel after a period of operational service or a critical incident. The aim of the mental health screen is to provide early identification and intervention of mental health illness. The mental health screen is not counselling or psychotherapy.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare for a mental health screening interview
  • Relevant documents are gathered and prepared in accordance with organisations instructions.
  • Verbal brief on the purpose and process of the mental health screening interview is provided to clients.
  • Psychological screening questionnaire in administered to client, and scored in accordance with relevant instructions.
  • The psychological record of the client is reviewed prior to the screening interview, as required based on findings of screening questionnaire.
       
Element: Conduct a mental health screening interview
  • The screening interview tool is used to guide the interview process and record client responses.
  • Communication techniques are applied, as necessary, to encourage cooperation and the honest exchange of information relevant to the purpose of the interview.
  • The principles of a screening interview are applied to establish an environment of trust and mutual respect.
  • Negative responses and conflict are handled constructively and effectivel.
  • Client behaviour and responses are observed and noted for further exploration.
  • Questioning is used to determine moods, emotions and areas of concern of the client in accordance with guidelines.
  • Key issues and client concerns are determined and recorded in accordance with guidelines.
  • Clients in crisis are recognised and responded to in accordance with guidelines.
  • Referral options and screening outcomes are considered and discussed with the client in accordance with guidelines.
  • Education or support options are outlined to the client as required.
  • Interview is concluded in a sincere, courteous and friendly manner in accordance with guidelines.
       
Element: Perform post-mental health screening interview administration
  • Notes made during interview and other relevant information is retained and recorded in accordance with organisational requirements.
  • Psychology screening record is completed in accordance with organisational requirements.
  • Referral to mental health professional is prepared and submitted in accordance with organisational requirements.
  • Verbal feedback is provided to mental health professional about the clients identified issues and concerns.
  • Individual psychology documents are updated, stored and/or returned in accordance with organisational privacy and security requirements.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

use appropriate attending behaviours, effective interviewing micro-skills and questioning techniques

an ability to gather appropriate information for referral action and implement the outcomes of a psychological screen, and

complete and report activity outcomes accurately in accordance with relevant instructions

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated on at least four occasion including at least two different types of screening interviews

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access to:

Suitable environment for screening interview

Screening interview tools

Access to relevant psychological documents

Role players (clients)

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

Communicate detailed and technical testing procedures to individuals or groups

Literacy skills to clearly articulate administrative procedures and draft written reports

Numeracy skills to accurately analyse and validate psychometric test results

Organisational skills to manage own tasks within timeframes

Problem-solving skills to apply a broad range of problem-solving strategies to work outcomes

Self-management skills to consistently evaluate and monitor own performance

Facilitation skills to coordinate testing groups efficiently and effectively

Using information technology including common software packages such as word processing, spreadsheets and databases, e-mail, and customised electronic psychological testing and record keeping systems

Take notes whilst communicating effectively

Accurately observe and correctly interpret client behaviour

Communicate in a culturally sensitive and respectful manner

Maintain client confidentiality

Apply interviewing micro-skills

Apply first-aid to an injured persons

Apply organisational privacy and security requirements

Required Knowledge

ADF mental health technical manuals, policy, processes and procedures

Reporting requirements relating to observed client behaviour

Legislative requirements relating to collection, storage, disposal and release of psychological information

Psychological screening interview tools

Interviewing micro-skills

Verbal and non-verbal communication techniques

Cultural diversity

Culture and trauma management

Own cultural bias/beliefs

Principles of early intervention

Organisational codes of conduct, practices and ethics

Organisational and own scope of practice (limitations/boundaries)

Safe working policy and practices

Privacy and confidentiality policy and procedures

Duty of care

Symptoms of psychological distress

Self-care principles

Common mental health illnesses

Psycho-education strategies such as stress management, operational stress, critical incident mental health support, anger management, relaxation techniques, sleep and fatigue management, grief, trauma reactions, problem solving, alcohol and other drug abuse, suicide first aid

Referral options and procedures

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Documents may include:

administrative applications

personal history profile

personal psych files and documents

psych referrals

psychology assessment record

psychology document folder

psychology reports

psychology test record

recruiting psychology report

Psychological screening questionnaires may include:

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

Deployment experience questionnaire

Kessler 10 Questionnaire

Major Stressors Inventory

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Check List – Civilian

Traumatic Stress Exposure Scale – Revised

Screening interview tools may include:

Critical Incident Mental Health Support (CIMHS)

Post Operational Psychological Screening (POPS)

Return to Australia Psychological Screening (RTAPS)

Special Psychological Screening

Communication techniques may include:

active listening

asking questions in the interview

confrontation

direct and indirect questioning

encouragers

eye contact

intentional non-attending

non-verbal communication

paraphrasing content

perception checking

phrasing questions

qualities of voice

reflecting feeling/meaning

requests for clarification

summarising

tracking

Principles of screening interview may include:

client well-being

empathy

listening

no harm

resistance

respect

Referral options and screening outcomes may include:

feedback to client

immediate follow-up

provision of psycho-educational training

referral to a mental health professional

routine follow-up

Education or support options may include:

alcohol tobacco and other drugs preventative programs

anger management

grief reaction

problem solving

relaxation techniques

sleep hygiene

stress management

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Relevant documents are gathered and prepared in accordance with organisations instructions. 
Verbal brief on the purpose and process of the mental health screening interview is provided to clients. 
Psychological screening questionnaire in administered to client, and scored in accordance with relevant instructions. 
The psychological record of the client is reviewed prior to the screening interview, as required based on findings of screening questionnaire. 
The screening interview tool is used to guide the interview process and record client responses. 
Communication techniques are applied, as necessary, to encourage cooperation and the honest exchange of information relevant to the purpose of the interview. 
The principles of a screening interview are applied to establish an environment of trust and mutual respect. 
Negative responses and conflict are handled constructively and effectivel. 
Client behaviour and responses are observed and noted for further exploration. 
Questioning is used to determine moods, emotions and areas of concern of the client in accordance with guidelines. 
Key issues and client concerns are determined and recorded in accordance with guidelines. 
Clients in crisis are recognised and responded to in accordance with guidelines. 
Referral options and screening outcomes are considered and discussed with the client in accordance with guidelines. 
Education or support options are outlined to the client as required. 
Interview is concluded in a sincere, courteous and friendly manner in accordance with guidelines. 
Notes made during interview and other relevant information is retained and recorded in accordance with organisational requirements. 
Psychology screening record is completed in accordance with organisational requirements. 
Referral to mental health professional is prepared and submitted in accordance with organisational requirements. 
Verbal feedback is provided to mental health professional about the clients identified issues and concerns. 
Individual psychology documents are updated, stored and/or returned in accordance with organisational privacy and security requirements. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

DEFPS002 - Conduct a mental health screening interview
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

DEFPS002 - Conduct a mental health screening interview

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: