Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish and work within the current context, philosophy and values of the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector.

This unit applies to workers who come into contact with clients affected by alcohol and other drugs.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Unit Mapping Information

No equivalent unit.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=5e0c25cc-3d9d-4b43-80d3-bd22cc4f1e53

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

• used critical thinking skills to evaluate information about current values and philosophy of the AOD sector
• worked with at least 2 people who have alcohol and/or drugs issues in ways that are consistent with the current values and philosophy of the AOD sector

Knowledge Evidence

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 work role. This includes knowledge of:

• impact of current and changing social, political, economic and legal contexts of AOD
• historical, current and emerging models of alcohol and drugs practice and their evidence base including:

• moral model
• disease model
• psycho-dynamic model
• social learning model
• social-cultural model
• public health model, including systems approach
• stages of change model

• legal and ethical considerations (international, national, state/territory, local) in AOD work, and how they are applied in organisations and individual practice:

• children in the workplace
• codes of conduct
• codes of practice
• discrimination
• dignity of risk
• duty of care
• human rights
• informed consent
• mandatory reporting
• practice standards
• privacy, confidentiality and disclosure, including limitations
• policy frameworks
• records management
• rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients
• specific AOD legislation
• work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations, and their importance
• work health and safety

• specific contexts for AOD work and their characteristics, including:

• centre-based work
• day program
• withdrawal services
• drop-in centres, recreational facilities
• housing and residential services
• inpatient
• outreach and home visits, street, parks
• online AOD work, web-based, emails, discussion rooms
• telephone contact

• values and philosophies of the AOD sector, including:

• harm minimisation
• recovery
• person-centred approach
• empowerment
• health promotion (as per the Ottawa Charter)

• social constructs of the AOD sector and the impact of own attitudes on working with people affected by AOD
• historic, current and emerging patterns of drug and alcohol use
• services, prevention and intervention strategies available to AOD clients
• risks and mitigation strategies when working with people affected by alcohol and/or other drugs
• drug fundamentals:

• classes of drugs:

• primary properties
• harms

• types of drugs and how they are administered, including:

• alcohol
• cannabis
• tobacco
• illicit
• prescription
• current and emerging trends in drug types and their use

• signs and symptoms of use, including:

• stages and symptoms of withdrawal
• effects of drug use on health, cognitive, social, emotional development and impact on others

• patterns and prevalence of drug use, including:

• experimental
• recreational/social
• situational
• dependence

• poly drug use, common drug interactions and effects of prescribed drugs on the use of other drugs

Assessment Conditions

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. Where simulation is used, it must reflect real working conditions by modelling industry operating conditions and contingencies, as well as, using suitable facilities, equipment and resources.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=5e0c25cc-3d9d-4b43-80d3-bd22cc4f1e53