Release 1. This is the first release of this unit of competency in the CSC Correctional Services Training Package Release 5.0

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to supervise and support female offenders whilst maintaining a professional relationship and facilitating the offender’s behavioural self-awareness.

An individual undertaking this role works autonomously using support from mostly familiar resources. The role involves complex task organisation and analysis in a range of contexts that may be unfamiliar or unpredictable.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to, particularly those related to interaction with female offenders.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.

Not applicable.

Offender management

Not applicable.

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1 

Support female offenders in maintaining relationships 

1.1 

Assist female offenders to facilitate and maintain contact with family, friends and support networks in the community

1.2 

Provide support to female offenders in a manner that maintains the integrity of self-management and personal dignity

1.3 

Encourage female offenders to confidently and positively manage themselves and their relationships

2 

Maintain professional relationships with female offenders 

2.1 

Communicate with female offenders in a manner appropriate to the offenders’ needs and circumstances

2.2 

Develop and maintain supportive and appropriate relationships with female offenders and service agencies

2.3 

Respond positively, appropriately, and consistently to female offenders’ requests and concerns

2.4 

Manage and maintain professional boundaries

3 

Facilitate offender’s self-awareness of their behaviour 

3.1 

Establish and maintain acceptable boundaries of behaviour

3.2 

Provide feedback to female offenders to assist them to identify the impact of their behaviour on self and others

3.3 

Assist female offenders to identify unacceptable patterns of behaviour and negotiate change

3.4 

Provide positive reinforcement of acceptable behaviour and acknowledge progress toward change

3.5 

Utilise support networks to maintain positive changes in behaviour

4 

Provide supervision to female offenders 

4.1 

Use communication strategies with female offenders to promote effective interaction

4.2 

Identify and use a range of communication styles to respect and reflect the diversity of the workplace and working with female offenders

4.3 

Observe female offenders’ routines and monitor changes and identify needs and potential risks

4.4 

Refer to specialist services where risks and needs and are identified

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Correctional Services Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to CSCOFM014 Supervise female offenders.

Release 1. This is the first release of this unit of competency in the CSC Correctional Services Training Package Release 5.0

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least two occasions and include:

• assessing risks and needs of female offenders
• identifying and referring appropriate support services to female offenders
• providing support and feedback to female offenders
• adapting communication techniques in the supervision of female offenders
• modelling respect and cultural sensitivity to female offenders
• establishing and maintaining a supportive professional relationship with offenders and other stakeholders.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

• factors that contribute to female offending behaviour
• organisational policies and procedures related to female offenders
• specific statutory requirements for the care and protection of female offenders
• range of services available to the individual and the organisation to support female offenders
• mental health disorders/illness prevalent among female offenders
• effective strategies for working with female offenders
• impact of staff gender on working with female offenders
• principles of effective communication including respect and cultural sensitivity
• principal cultural observations and requirements of main cultural groups in the female offender’s community
• offending behaviour patterns of females in the criminal justice system
• impact of primary care giving, including children in prison.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations. Where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• acceptable means of simulation assessment
• applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals
• relevant materials, tools, equipment and PPE currently used in industry.