Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit covers the competency required to deliver administrative, technical, and/or professional services in a recovery context by professionals and volunteers working within a framework of existing emergency management legislation, regulations, plans and arrangements.

The range of services provided will vary markedly with the scale and type of emergency and will address aspects of community, psychosocial, infrastructure, economic and environmental recovery.

Service providers will deliver recovery services based on their expertise and previous technical/professional/ organisational training.

While some personnel may lead small service delivery teams, the management of service delivery is addressed in the following unit of competency:

• PUAEMR017A Manage recovery functions and services.

Application of the Unit 

The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Prerequisite Unit /s 

Nil

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a Unit of Competency.

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the Required Skills and Knowledge and/or the Range Statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Clarify service delivery requirements 

1.1 Nature of own service role is established within the context of the overall recovery strategy and service delivery model

1.2 Scope, limits and priorities for required recovery services are confirmed

1.3 Range of information to be collected during service delivery is confirmed

1.4 Effective communication is established with recovery services manager and other service providers to ensure integration of service delivery and collection of information 

2. Develop an action plan for service delivery 

2.1 Relevant pre-prepared plans are applied/adapted to develop an action plan to satisfy the service requirement

2.2 Relevant legislative, regulation and safety requirements are identified and addressed in the action plan

2.3 Service delivery implications of potential short , medium  and long term recovery issues  are considered

2.4 Contingencies to address the most likely recovery issues are developed

2.5 Strategies are implemented to ensure the well being of all staff

2.6 Action plan is communicated to all stakeholders

3. Deliver recovery services 

3.1 Own team members are briefed/debriefed and assigned tasks and roles consistent with their capability/capacity

3.2 Services are delivered in a timely, flexible, equitable and culturally appropriate manner

3.3 Services are delivered in cooperation with other service providers to ensure seamless service delivery

3.4 All requests for services outside assigned scope are referred to the appropriate service provider

3.5 Established protocols and administration systems are used to track jobs and expenditure

3.6 Confidentiality of information about businesses and individuals is maintained

3.7 Quality and progress of service delivery is monitored and adjusted within agreed scope

3.8 Information about community needs, service level activity and suggested improvements to service delivery is collected and reported to recovery services manager

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills 

• briefing and debriefing
• data collection and evaluation, needs analysis
• high level interpersonal skills (diplomacy, tact, negotiation, conflict resolution)
• liaison with other service providers, recovery coordinators and managers
• observation, sensitivity to recognising stress behaviours and recovery needs
• organisation and project management skills (prioritising, resource assessments and allocations, use of relevant equipment)
• team work
• verbal and written communication with a wide range of community members, professional and administrative personnel

Required Knowledge 

• Australian/state/territory/local government recovery assistance programs (relevant to service role)
• awareness of cultural and linguistic diversity and availability of translation/interpreter services
• common impacts of emergencies on communities and individuals
• community development approaches and strategies
• community contexts (social, political, economic, cultural, environmental)
• delegations and administrative processes
• OH&S issues relating to services delivery
• organisational budgeting and financial management
• protocols for information management and liaison with the public and media
• recommended approaches to recovery service delivery (relevant to service role)
• relevant legislative/regulatory framework, local/state/territory emergency management arrangements

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

• deliver recovery services safely, effectively and efficiently
• collect accurate information about community needs and services
• monitor and adjust service delivery within agreed scope
• communicate effectively with recovery managers, other service providers and the community.

Consistency in performance 

Competency should be demonstrated in a range of contexts such as:

• throughout the life of a recovery operation
• during components of a number of operations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Context of assessment 

Competency should be assessed delivering recovery services in the workplace or in a simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment 

Access is required to:

• a community and the opportunity to deliver recovery services during an actual or simulated emergency.

Guidance information for assessment 

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

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. Bold italicised  wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Emergency management legislation , regulations , plans and arrangements may include 

Australian/state/territory/local government legislation, regulations, plans, arrangements, procedures, protocols

Emergency management arrangements and/or legislation

Environmental protection requirements

Community requirements

OH&S Acts and requirements

Media protocols

Privacy Act which limits sharing of information between agencies, service providers

Public and environmental health requirements

Recovery plans, public information plans

Emergencies may include 

Civil and political incidents and events such as economic, general strike, terrorism, sabotage, hostage situation/s, civil unrest, enemy attack

Natural events such as drought; fire (forest, grass, urban); flood, wind driven water; avalanche, snow, ice, hail; tsunami; windstorm, tropical storm, cyclone; dust and sand storms, lightning storm; pandemic, biological hazard; extreme heat or cold; earthquakes, land shifts, landslide or mudslide, volcanic eruption

Technical or industrial incidents and events such as hazardous material spills or releases, radiological accidents, extreme air pollution; explosions, fire; dam/levee failure; building/structure collapse; transportation accidents; fuel/resource shortages; power/utility failure; business interruption, strikes, financial collapse

Services that facilitate recovery of infrastructure and the built environment may include 

Debris removal

Engineering and demolition

Restoration of essential services (hospitals, schools)

Restoration of lifelines and utilities such as information and communication services, transport links, power, water supply, drainage, sanitation, accommodation

Services that facilitate economic and financial recovery may include 

Appeals and donations

Economic redevelopment strategies, business/industry recovery packages

Financial advice, insurance advice

Grants and personal support programs (e.g. financial relief)

Services that facilitate social /community recovery may include 

Community development

Pastoral care, counselling, mental health services

Registration, public information, immediate relief services (e.g. temporary accommodation, food, transport, relocation)

Services that facilitate recovery of the natural environment may include 

Containment of hazards, decontamination and removal of hazards

Revegetation

Service providers may include 

Architects, engineers, planners, builders

Business recovery advisers

Australian/state/territory/local government program administration staff

Financial advisers, bank officers, insurance assessors

Non government and community service organisation staff (Red Cross, Rotary, Salvation Army)

Personal support staff such as social workers, public health workers, advocates and mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors

Suppliers of demolition and debris removal services

Suppliers of earthworks, road making and revegetation services

Utility workers (power, water, drainage, sanitation, garbage)

Collection of information may include 

Collection strategies that recognise the diverse cultural, language and linguistic needs of the community

Feedback from briefings and debriefings

Phone calls and surveys about unmet community needs and service effectiveness

Reports on expenditure, resource availability and use, staff welfare

Summaries of damage assessments, service requests, jobs completed, daily/weekly logs

Short term recovery issues may include 

First aid

Food/water

Immediate needs

Personal support

Shelter

Medium term recovery issues may include 

Counselling services

Personal support

Repairs to dwellings

Restoration of utilities

Temporary accommodation

Long term recovery issues may include 

Community re development

Economic re development

Rebuilding of houses

Reconstruction of infrastructure

Co-requisite Unit /s 

Nil