Unit of competency details

Descriptor 

This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to contribute to the recovery of people affected by a mental illness in the context of the impact of mental illness on clients, their carer/s and families

Application 

This unit applies to work with people affected by a mental illness in a range of community services work contexts

This work provides a person-centred approach to care, involving a variety of health and community service professionals working collaboratively with the client, their carer/s and family

Employability Skills 

This unit contains Employability Skills

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.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Work within the context of different mental health diagnoses

1.1 Apply basic knowledge of a range of mental health diagnoses

1.2 Demonstrate an understanding of the process used to determine a diagnosis

1.3 Identify a range of different service responses to a range of mental health diagnoses

2. Apply knowledge of the impact of mental illness on people's lives

2.1 Work within the context of the client's experiences

2.2 Work within the framework of self perception and self-esteem issues of the person with a mental illness or mental health diagnosis

2.3 Respond to the person in a manner that reflects appreciation of their functional skills and social and financial well being

2.4 Recognise importance of employment/occupation/ vocation and potential impact of mental health diagnosis on that aspect of the person's life

2.5 Empathise with sense of loss and associated adjustments experienced by person with mental health diagnosis

2.6 Demonstrate understanding of a range of coping mechanisms used by the person

3. Apply an understanding of the impact of social determinants on health

3.1 Identify a range of social barriers that impact on the life of the person with mental health issues

3.2 Identify the effect of and possible strategies to respond to the barriers  that impact on the person

3.3 Identify others  that can assist with the response to barriers that impact on the person

3.4 Identify strategies to engage support with the response to barriers that impact on the person

4. Work with families, carer/s friends and other networks to support people with mental illness

4.1 Work with consideration and understanding of the impact of a client's mental health diagnosis on families, carer/s, friends and other social networks

4.2 Work with awareness of the everyday effects of the interaction of coping mechanisms used by person experiencing mental illness on their family, carer/s and other social networks

4.3 Work with understanding of the roles of consumer workers, carers and associated networks and their potential to positively impact the life of the person with mental health issues

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:

• Person-centred, holistic and strengths-based approaches
• Basic knowledge of mental health diagnosis and diagnostic processes
• Roles of a range of workers involved in mental health teams and their potential contributions in the recovery process, including:

• clinical and non-clinical workers
• consumer workers

• The range of contexts which influence a person's life
• Stigma
• Individual triggers, reasons and purposes of challenging behaviour
• Types of challenging behaviour
• Social barriers experienced by people affected by mental illness
• Systemic issues that affect people affected by mental illness
• The effect of involuntary and voluntary admission to hospital
• Range of people affected by mental illness/ mental health diagnosis
• Coping mechanisms of people affected by mental illness, including person who experiences mental illness, family, carer/s, friends and social networks
• Theoretical frameworks in regard to loss and adjustment

Essential skills :

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

• Reflect on own attitudes, behaviours and practice and how this affects other people
• Apply a holistic approach to working with people
• Apply a person-centred approach to working with people
• Apply a strengths-based approach to working with people
• Identify effective responses to challenging behaviour
• Identify a range of barriers experienced by people affected by mental illness and psychiatric disability
• Identify a range of individual, family, carer/s and social network coping mechanisms
• Work collaboratively with the person and as part of a mental team and facilitate and support the potential contributions of other members of that team in the recovery process

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 :

• The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
• This unit is best assessed on the job or in a simulated workplace under the normal range of conditions
• Consistency in performance should consider the requirements of the particular workplace context

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 :

• This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged
• Resources required for assessment of this unit include access to a workplace or simulated workplace where assessment may occur

Method of assessment :

• In cases where the learner does not have the opportunity to cover all relevant aspects in the work environment, the remainder should be assessed through realistic simulations, projects, previous relevant experience or oral questioning on 'What if?' scenarios
• Assessment of this unit of competence will usually include observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questioning 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

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.

Possible strategies to respond to barriers may include :

• Focus on strengths
• Solution finding
• Cooperative effort
• Information
• Providing choices and options

Others may include :

• Family
• Carer/s
• Friends
• Neighbours
• Social network
• Co-workers
• Employers