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 of assessment:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Conditions of assessment:

This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture

Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself

or:

accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care

Context of assessment:

This unit can be appropriately assessed in the workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions or in a simulated workplace situation with the normal range of conditions to which the Social and Emotional Well Being Worker would be exposed in the workplace

Such conditions may include

institutional settings (e.g. rehabilitation centre)

one to one counselling sessions

family or couple counselling

outreach (particularly for youth)

opportunistic counselling (e.g. in the home when engaged in other health care such as administering medication)

All assessments must ensure that the personal safety of the worker and the client is taken into consideration when demonstrating the competencies

Assessment must take account of the practice of counselling

Assessment must take into consideration the cultural safety aspects of counselling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and this must be demonstrated by the worker
In support of this the assessor must be also be aware of the characteristics of, and practice cultural safety in their own assessment processes

Method of assessment:

In making the holistic assessment of the performance criteria in this unit it is essential that observation is made of the worker undertaking counselling with clients, either in the workplace, or in a simulated workplace with access to the full range of workplace conditions and clients with whom the counselling will take place

Assessment must include observation of counselling for at least three of the following groups:

children

youth

couples or families

survivors of sexual abuse

at risk of self harm/suicide

trauma survivors (particularly Stolen Generations/Removed Generations)

Related units:

This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application

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

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Conflict resolution strategies for individuals and families

Counselling models and techniques:

6 step problem solving method

5 stages of trauma recovery

ABC model of behaviour

cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) model

brief solution focussed therapy

narrative therapy

SOAPIE

strategies for counselling of survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault, children and youth, couples, families, grieving families, friends and communities

motivational counselling

definitions and models of grief counselling

strategies of open communication for couples

what makes a good counsellor (listening, skills, empathy, trust etc)

Debriefing

definitions and processes

for self

for colleagues

History of Aboriginal people and its impact on current behaviours, communities and perceptions

Healing models, such as:

Atkinson's trans-generational healing model

traditional healing and counselling

healing through art, drawing, music

social genograms

narrative therapy

Local community structures

Local cultural protocols and traditions

Local support networks and services

Professional boundaries

ethics of counselling - including personal relationships

confidentiality and its limits

Procedures for working with clients in crisis ie safety issues, liaising with emergency agencies, calming strategies etc

Referral agencies and options

continued ...

Essential knowledge (continued):

Sexual abuse (definitions, myths and facts, ways survivors feel and behave, monitoring sexual abuse, patterns in relating to the world for survivors).

Sexual assault

definitions, myths and facts

effects

legal and medical procedures and strategies for counselling

Stolen/removed generations

Suicide and self harm

risk factors

emergency procedures

assistance and support (agencies, community, family)

counselling strategies

referral options

Essential knowledge may also include:

Vocational counselling:

identifying strengths and weaknesses and preferences of client

local vocational networks and services

available vocational training and employment opportunities (e.g. apprenticeships, traineeships, TAFE, RTOs, CDEP, literacy and numeracy support)

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Assess the mental status and needs of clients in crisis and develop appropriate treatment and/or referral plans/options in consultation with the client

Provide clients with appropriate emotional support and guidance within professional boundaries of SEWB support relationships and own work role

In addition, the candidate must be able to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to apply:

Counselling skills:

listening skills

negotiation

questioning, reframing

externalising

reflection process by worker

Counselling techniques - individual, family, couple, with specific skills in working with:

children

youth

couples/families

sexual abuse survivors

sexual assault

those at risk of suicide/self harm

Communication skills for couples

Conflict resolution skills

Crisis management

Debriefing strategies and processes

Problem solving skills

Professional boundaries and ethics

Referral procedures to agencies

Shared case management

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.

Cultural respect

This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social wellbeing, community capacity and governance

Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices

Community control

Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process

Supervision

Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements

References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals

A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines

Legislative requirements

Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute "usual practice" due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by "usual practice circumstances"

Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework

Characteristics of clients include:

Addicts or recovering addicts

Adults

Children

Clients diagnosed with a mental illness

Grieving individuals, families and communities

People who have limited schooling

People with English as a second or third language

Stolen generations

Survivors of sexual abuse

Victims of sexual assault

Victims of trauma, domestic/family violence, assault or abuse

Youth

... and may include:

Older people

People who have issues of identity (sexual, cultural)

People with disabilities

Unemployed

Services include:

Advocacy

Counselling

Crisis intervention

Debriefing

Early intervention/prevention

Liaising between agencies

Medication monitoring

Referral

Shared case management

Support and management

Stakeholders include:

Community elders

Families, carers, friends

Individuals

Traditional healers

... and may include:

Aboriginal Legal Services (Stolen Generations issues)

Emergency services - police, ambulance

Employers (Aboriginal Medical Services, Community Centres)

Government departments and agencies providing support services in sexual assault, trauma, financial support, counselling, child protection, health, housing, justice

Vocational training organisations

Organisation policies and processes may include:

Emergency procedures

Freedom of information policy

OH&S procedures

Practice guidelines for social and emotional well being workers

Referral procedures

Linked agencies may include:

Aboriginal Medical Services

Accommodation

Crisis services such as Kids Help Line, Samaritans, Anglicare, Refuges, Sobering Up Shelters

Department of Social Security /Centrelink

Emergency services such as police and hospital

Employment services and support

Family and Children's Services or equivalent

Financial assistance agencies (e.g. family and children's services)

Health Department

Mental health services

Ministry of Justice

Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Sexual Assault Counselling Services