This unit of competency applies to community services work which may involve domestic and family violence and which requires an advanced level of skills and knowledge

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Establish the users of domestic and family violence willingness to address their violent and abusive behaviour

1.1 Utilise questioning to explore how the user of domestic and family violence understands and locates the responsibility for their violence and abuse

1.2 Encourage the user of domestic and family violence to recognise the advantages of behaving in ways that are non-violent and non-abusive

1.3 Explore the users of domestic and family violence aspirations for future relationships in order to examine how their violence undermines fulfilment of those aspirations

1.4 Characterise all interactions with the user of domestic and family violence with respect, honesty and a concern for children and partner safety and in accordance with agency/organisation policies and procedures

2. Establish a clear focus on the users of domestic and family violence behaviour and their responsibility for change and the parameters and conditions under which the intervention will take place

2.1 Acknowledge and challenge as the priority/focus for change the users of domestic and family violence understanding of the problems their violent and abusive behaviour cause

2.2 Establish a written contract for the intervention which clearly focuses on the users of domestic and family violence responsibility for their use of violent and abusive behaviours, the potential for change and the priority of the safety of children and partners

2.3 Clarify and agree on expectations for mutually respectful behaviours and use of language, including challenging by the worker

3. Engage in reflective practice to minimise potential for collusion

3.1 Enact and maintain accountability processes throughout the intervention process

3.2 Recognise, resist and challenge instances provided by the user of domestic and family violence for collusion

3.3 Examine own practices with the user of domestic and family violence for their potential to replicate dominant behaviours

3.4 Examine own values and attitudes towards constructions of gender to determine the potential for collusion with the users of domestic and family violence account of their use of violence and abuse

3.5 Maintain processes that ensure gender accountability between workers

4. Establish practices which are sensitive to and respectful of diversity in the users of domestic and family violence experience without compromising the safety of children and partners

4.1 Establish and maintain practices and strategies that are sensitive to the users of domestic and family violence experiences in relation to membership of a minority culture or experiences of injustice

4.2 Acknowledge respectfully the users of domestic and family violence experiences of injustice, victimisations, prejudice or discrimination while also ensuring that any attribution of causality or responsibility for abusive practices to these experiences is challenged

4.3 Assist the user of domestic and family violence to seek and acknowledge evidence of respectful, just and equitable values and practices in their culture

5. Provide opportunities for the user of domestic and family violence to plan, initiate and monitor changes

5.1 Encourage the user of domestic and family violence to make and implement realistic plans to cease all forms of violent and abusive behaviour

5.2 Provide opportunities fro the user of domestic and family violence to demonstrate their responsible and respectful behaviour

5.3 Encourage the user of domestic and family violence to establish and maintain active involvement in ongoing networks of support for responsible and respectful behaviour

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

These include knowledge of:

Understanding contemporary practices and theories of domestic violence

Gender analysis of domestic violence

Tactics and politics of abuse

Restrictive constructions of masculinity

Theories of change

Relevant legislation

Agency policies/protocols

Supervision and debriefing models

Worker self knowledge including own biases

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Demonstrate awareness of potential for collusion with the client group

Demonstrate respectful practices

Undertake mixed gender co-facilitation

Challenge the user of domestic and family violence

Engage the user of domestic and family violence

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

These include the ability to:

Undertake risk assessment

Use effective group facilitation

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:

This unit requires a demonstrated ability to work with user of domestic and family violence to assist them to individually acknowledge their responsibility for their violent and abusive behaviour. In particular, evidence must be obtained on the ability to:

Critically assess a users of domestic and family violence motivation for change

Promote the users of domestic and family violence sole responsibility for their violence and abuse and an awareness of the impact of this behaviour on other people

Facilitate processes that enable the user of domestic and family violence to make choices about changing thinking and behaviour

Monitor and critically evaluate changes in the light of information from a variety of sources

Evaluate and critically self reflect on the impact of the worker's actions throughout the intervention process

Maintain an evidence-based, good practice basis for working with users of violence and abuse

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:

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

Resources may include:

Literature and information relating to the theory and practice of providing integrated domestic violence services and interventions for users of violence and abuse

Internet resources

Agency/organisation policies and procedures

Literature and information relating to the legislative and criminal justice system in relation to domestic violence

Access to interventions for users of violence and abuse

Method of assessment

Evidence for assessment of competence may be gathered by appropriate combination of the following:

demonstration of competency within the working environment in delivering services to clients living with and affected by domestic and family violence

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

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.

Instances provided by the user of domestic and family violence may include:

Minimisation of their violence and abuse

Justification for their use of violence and abuse

Beliefs and attitudes about gender and the use of violence and abuse

Accountability processes refers to processes that facilitate open and transparent review of a user of domestic and family violence actions and the intervention that can be subject to review by legitimated others and are directed to:

Partners and children's experience of domestic violence

Current knowledge about the experience of domestic violence on all persons in the community who have been abused or are vulnerable to violence and abuse

Agencies/organisations that represent and assist people subject to violence and abuse

Statutory agencies/organisations that address domestic violence including the criminal justice system

Funding agencies/organisations that support intervention programs

Responsible and respectful behaviour by the user of domestic and family violence may include, but is not limited to:

Self responsibility

Self reliance

Self confrontation

Separateness/independence from partner

This unit contains Employability Skills