Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit describes the competencies required to assess whether clients are misusing alcohol and/or other drugs and implement a care plan under direction or within established guidelines that limit discretion

Application 

This unit is intended to address skills and knowledge required by those working with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities at Certificate III level, under direction, to deliver a specific range of health care services

Direction may be provided by close supervision or established guidelines that limit discretion

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. Provide information to community  about substance misuse 

1.1 Ensure information is accurate and easily accessed by community 

1.2 Obtain further information  as needed

1.3 Provide information in a way the community understands

2. Assess whether individuals are misusing substances

2.1 Obtain client history  and record according to organisation guidelines

2.2 Make and record assessment  according to organisation guidelines

2.3 Maintain client confidentiality

3. Plan and implement follow up action

3.1 Plan follow up action in consultation with other health professionals and key community workers

3.2 Ensure follow up action is in line with community , legislative  and organisation guidelines

3.3 Refer client in line with individual and community needs and organisation guidelines

3.4 Record follow up action according to organisation guidelines

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

This includes knowledge of:

• Physical, social and psychological effects of misuse of substances identified in this unit
• Treatment options relating to specific substance misuse
• Community issues and legislation relating to substance misuse
• Patterns of drug and alcohol consumption relevant to the community and region
• Understanding of blood borne virus in relation to injecting drug use, and associated high rates of HIV and hepatitis C in this Aboriginal population group
• Indirect impacts of substance misuse, including:

• foetal alcohol syndrome
• environmental tobacco smoke

• Principles of harm minimisation (as Australia's national policy), including:

• harm reduction
• supply reduction
• demand reduction

• A broad knowledge base relating to individual and community health, including:

• biology and development
• psychology
• disease and treatment options
• culture and traditions

Essential skills :

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

• Communicating effectively with the community and individual clients about substance misuse
• Undertaking basic client assessments in relation to substance misuse
• Participating as part of a team in following up instances of identified substance misuse

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

This includes the ability to:

• Communicate effectively and establish a relationship of trust with clients, their family and the community, including:

• building relationships through respect, empathy and genuineness
• sensitive questioning and support of clients
• provision of information
• negotiation
• conflict resolution
• providing feedback

• Apply a broad skills base relating to appropriate intervention within the context of the local community, including:

• assessment
• provision of advice and support
• referral
• treatment and other interventions
• communication

• Reflect on and improve own level and application of skills and knowledge to achieve desirable outcomes and maintain own capabilities

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 of assessment :

• The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
• Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
• Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Conditions of assessment :

This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture

Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself

or:

• accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care

Context of assessment :

Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible

Related units :

This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application

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.

Cultural respect may include :

This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance

Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices

Community control may include :

Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process

Supervision may include :

Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements

References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals

A person at this level should only  be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines

Legislative requirements may include :

Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute "usual practice" due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by "usual practice circumstances"

Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework

Substance misuse may include :

• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Cannabis
• Heroin
• Amphetamines
• Party drugs (ecstasy, GHB)
• Cocaine
• Hallucinogens
• Pharmaceuticals (non-prescription use)
• Performance enhancing drugs (steroids etc)
• Inhalants (petrol and solvents)
• Kava

Information may be :

• Verbal or written in accordance with workplace requirements

Care may include :

• Provision of information, education, advice and/or social/emotional support
• Referral for treatment and/or counselling
• Traditional healing
• Ceremonies

Client history may include :

• Spiritual
• Economic
• Physical
• Environmental
• Mental and environmental
• Social

Other services may include :

• Drug misuse treatment and maintenance programs
• Alcohol misuse treatment programs
• Hospital care
• Education programs
• Government and non-government organisations
• Educators in substance misuse
• Care that community members provide to the client
• Traditional ceremonies

Clients may include :

• Individuals
• Families
• Communities

Assessment may be :

• Oral or written, in accordance with workplace requirements