Modification History
CHC08 Version 3 |
CHC08 Version 4 |
Description |
CHCCS521A Assess and respond to individuals at risk of suicide |
CHCCS521B Assess and respond to individuals at risk of suicide |
Unit updated in V4. ISC upgrade changes to remove references to old OHS legislation and replace with references to new WHS legislation. No change to competency outcome. |
Unit Descriptor
Descriptor |
This unit describes basic competencies required by community service workers to provide sensitive and effective intervention where risk of self-harm or suicide has been identified The focus is on identifying and managing immediate suicide risk in the context of a supportive helping relationship that seeks to work collaboratively with the person at risk to achieve safe outcomes Safe outcomes in this context include a clear safety plan for addressing any immediate danger to the person at risk or others, mobilising access to emergency medical help when needed and facilitating links with further care The unit relates to managing imminent risk in ways which provide opportunity for more comprehensive assessment and the provision of further help |
Application of the Unit
Application |
This unit may apply to people in formal helping roles in any community service context or where caregivers encounter persons at risk of suicide The focus of this unit is to provide a comprehensive response to manage situations where risk of suicide may be indicated, noting that self-harm may itself result in death - intentional or unintentional The skills and knowledge included here are to be applied to minimise risk in presenting situations and refer appropriately for ongoing support where required |
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Not Applicable
Pre-Requisites
Not Applicable
Employability Skills Information
Employability Skills |
This unit contains Employability Skills |
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
Elements define the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. |
The Performance Criteria specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element. Terms in italics are elaborated in the Range Statement. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Identify and assess the person's current suicide risk |
1.1 Recognise and respond to signs, (such as statements, reactions, thoughts, feelings or behaviours) indicating that a person may be considering suicide 1.2 Attend to any hunches, while listening as a helper, perhaps from indirect communications, that suggest the client may be considering suicide 1.3 Ask directly about thoughts of suicide whenever there are grounds for concern If suicide thoughts are present: 1.4 Seek sufficient understanding of why the person is considering suicide, and what links them to life, to inform and facilitate the intervention 1.5 Assess current suicide risk guided by risk assessment considerations outlined in the Range Statement and by whether there is an imminent threat to the person's safety or the safety of others 1.6 Follow steps outlined in elements 2, 3 and 4. If the person indicates she/he is not thinking of suicide and no suicidal intent, plans, or behaviour are evident: 1.7 Work collaboratively with the person to provide support and facilitate access to further care as needed - guided by elements 3 and 4 1.8 Remain vigilant about any emerging indications of suicidality, prompting careful risk assessment and safe management as outlined in elements 1 and 2 |
2. Work actively with the person to reduce the immediate risk of suicide and increase safety |
2.1 Build a collaborative empathic relationship with person at risk that acknowledges how thoughts of suicide and the pain behind them may affect their safety 2.2 Listen to what lies behind any thoughts of suicide while affirming and strengthening links to safety and living implicit in the helping relationship 2.3 Work with person at risk to develop and follow through on a safety plan that reduces immediate danger of self-harm, risk of suicidal behaviour and/or suicide and mobilises access to emergency medical help when needed 2.4 Manage intervention in ways that address and reduce any risk of harm to caregivers and others potentially at risk in the situation and remain mindful of circumstances where the police may need to be involved to address safety 2.5 Seek and act on advice from workplace supervisor to ensure action taken is lawful, complies with good suicide intervention practice and organisation policies consistent with that practice, ethical processes and duty of care obligations 2.6 Address work health and safety (WHS) obligations in relation to managing self and others 2.7 Refer to health professionals where appropriate |
3. Facilitate and strengthen the individual's links to further care |
Having worked with the person to take any steps needed to address immediate safety: 3.1 Encourage and enable capacity of person at risk and/or in crisis to make informed choices about further help that deals with their suicidality and associated needs for ongoing care 3.2 Acknowledge how the current helping relationship has provided foundations for further care 3.3 Explore and seek to understand and address any barriers to seeking or accepting help 3.4 Develop, with the individual, a plan and agreed first steps, to access and utilise informal supports and professional help |
4. Provide further intervention support to resource the individual beyond immediate crisis |
When or if it is assessed that there is no imminent risk that needs to be immediately addressed: 4.1 Maintain open rapport with individual to encourage discussion of on-going concerns related to their situation generally and any suicide risk - focusing on what most needs attention now 4.2 Affirm person's decision to seek and accept help to keep safe and address their concerns 4.3 Review how and with whom they might seek help in future to keep safe and/or get support 4.4 Support individual to develop coping strategies (both internal and external) which prepare them to safely manage any recurrence of suicidal thoughts 4.5 Identify mental health concerns or personal circumstances (such as depression, trauma, substance misuse or significant losses) that need addressing and facilitate access to appropriate help 4.6 Ensure supports and coping strategies developed are documented and communicated as necessary to other members of work team 4.7 Comply with all laws, relevant ethical guidelines and policy requirements that affect duty of care |
Required Skills and Knowledge
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE |
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:
|
Essential skills: It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:
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:
|
Evidence Guide
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: |
|
Access and equity considerations: |
|
Context of and specific resources for assessment: |
|
Method of assessment may include: |
|
Range Statement
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. |
|
General context of suicide self /harm work : Mental health or community support worker in a community, respite, residential or hospital setting |
|
Identifying potential suicide risk involves: |
|
Informed suicide risk assessments involve: |
A wide variety of contextual or personal considerations also help inform assessments and may include such things as significant loss, trauma, the impact of another person's suicide or a pattern of extreme agitation, anger / violent behaviour
|
Safer outcomes include: |
Recognising that:
Developing or reactivating suicide safety plans tailored to meet the situation, but typically including the following processes and tasks:
|
Facilitate and strengthen the individual's links to further care includes: |
|
Ongoing support provision may include: |
|
Unit Sector(s)
Not Applicable