Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to set up and operate an emergency recovery centre to provide comprehensive recovery services. It includes establishing a recovery centre; managing human resources and physical resources; coordinating information flow, recovery services, transition to mainstream services and managing the closure of a recovery centre.

The mix of recovery and/or outreach services provided may change throughout the life of a centre to reflect a changing emphasis from short term relief to long term recovery. This may involve management of centre infrastructure; promotion of the centre; management of paid and volunteer staff in a stressful environment; administration, information and financial management and the coordination of service providers.

The unit applies to personnel with responsibility for the management of a recovery centre.

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

Not applicable.

Emergency Management

Not applicable

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1  

Establish recovery centre 

1.1 

Emergency recovery plans and arrangements, manuals and contact lists are located and implemented

1.2 

Recovery centre useability and convenience are assessed given the likely scale of the emergency and impacts

1.3 

Recovery centre initial resource needs are assessed and suppliers are selected, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.4 

Financial matters, administrative procedures and task delegations are clarified and applied

1.5 

Utilities and communications are connected and equipment or materials are acquired, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.6 

Links with existing and emerging stakeholders are established to determine level of involvement with recovery centre

1.7 

Regular communication with recovery committee manager is established, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.8 

Centre layout is designed or organised to optimise efficiency, privacy, security and Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines, in accordance with organisational procedures

2 

Manage human resources sustainably 

2.1 

Capacity or capability of available personnel is assessed and roles and responsibilities are assigned

2.2 

Regular operational briefings are provided to update staff, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.3 

Screening, inducting and integrating new staff is established, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.4 

Strategies to ensure wellbeing of all staff are implemented, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

2.5 

Staffing contingency plans and rosters are adjusted to meet changing needs and circumstances

3 

Manage physical resources 

3.1 

An accurate recovery centre assets register is established and maintained

3.2 

Centre maintenance is organised regularly, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.3 

Records of consumables and equipment used are maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.4 

Expenditure is tracked and administered, in accordance with financial organisational procedures

3.5 

Risks are assessed regularly and contingency plans developed for expansion and back up of resources

4 

Coordinate information flow and recovery services 

4.1 

Stakeholders are identified and a communication plan is developed, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.2 

Community is provided with accurate and timely service delivery information

4.3 

Client satisfaction is monitored to ensure inquiries are handled, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.4 

Accurate client files are maintained using an integrated electronic database

4.5 

Key decisions, rationale and service activity levels are recorded to enable reporting and evaluation

4.6 

Information is reported to stakeholders, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.7 

Strategy for the management of media and very important person visits is developed and implemented

5 

Manage recovery centre closure and transition to mainstream services 

5.1 

Transition of emergency centre arrangements are negotiated and publicised to the community to ensure continuity of services

5.2 

Capacity of mainstream services to meet ongoing recovery needs is promoted, in accordance with media strategy

5.3 

Files and information records are checked and rectified, as required

5.4 

Arrangements for the transportation and secure storage of files and information records are made, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.5 

Statistical and financial summaries of recovery services delivered are prepared

5.6 

An audit of equipment and materials is undertaken against the recovery centre assets register, damages and losses are reported and resources are released or returned to providers

5.7 

Recovery centre is restored before handover to owner

5.8 

Operational debriefing is held with recovery centre personnel to evaluate the centre's operation, service delivery and to identify ongoing service delivery needs

5.9 

Arrangements are made to ensure the smooth transition of staff to normal duties

5.10 

Audit and reporting requirements are completed to assist in future recovery planning

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 Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to PUAEMR015A Establish and manage a recovery centre.

Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

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

• analysing recovery centre financial reports
• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements
• conducting briefings and debriefings including

• detail of specific activities
• emergent issues
• following organisational policies and procedures
• identification of persons in charge, organisations and people involved in the operation
• methods and timing of communication
• overview of recovery purpose and operations
• overview of the nature and impact of the emergency
• preparing communication reports and information briefs to suit a range of audiences
• protocols and procedures
• resources available and not available
• staff arrangements including such as shift timings, breaks, meals and additional support

• establishing and managing a recovery centre including

• collecting data and information
• communicating with community members with diverse needs, perspectives and cultural backgrounds
• demonstrating interpersonal skills including diplomacy, tact, negotiation and conflict resolution
• demonstrating organisational skills including prioritising, resource assessment and allocation and use of equipment
• layout of recovery centre and promotion of services
• maintaining accurate files and records
• managing daily recovery centre operations
• managing recovery centre closure and transition to mainstream services
• monitoring and adjusting recovery services to suit changing needs

• liaising with other organisations, service providers, coordinators and controllers
• locating recovery plans and identifying arrangements and initial resource needs
• recognising stress behaviours and recovery needs of clients and personnel
• working with competing and conflicting priorities and possible shortage of resources.

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

• audit and reporting requirements including

• analysis of service statistics
• comparison of grant applications against operational logs and grant criteria
• coronial inquiries
• evaluation and revision of policies and procedures
• key decisions and rationale

• characteristics of common emergency events together with related impacts, recovery needs and issues
• communication strategies for promoting the centre's recovery services
• design principles for recovery centres along with essential equipment, systems, consumables and initial resource requirements
• layout of the recovery centre including

• appropriate signage
• car parking
• childminding
• floor plan to optimise access and mobility
• heating and cooling
• office storage
• public noticeboard and staff information boards
• reception, interview, meeting, staff and quiet rooms for privacy including toilets, showers, kitchen and catering facilities
• security
• technological connections

• legislative and regulatory framework
• local, state and territory emergency management arrangements and recovery programs
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures including facility emergency response plans
• principles of recovery management
• procedures relating to recovery centre manager role and responsibilities including financial management, coordinating appeals and donations, liaison, auditing, reporting, centre administration and media requirements
• range of stakeholders who contribute to emergency and disaster recovery operations, including grants, assistance programs and services
• recovery plans and arrangements including

• arrangements specified in legislation or regulation
• existing recovery plans, agreements or memoranda of understanding and contact lists
• local planning regulations, development controls and environmental plans
• organisational or jurisdictional emergency recovery policies or procedures including media protocols and techniques
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements including risk mitigation

• specific needs and sensitivities of affected communities including cultural, language, religious, physical and dietary requirements
• WHS/OHS principles and procedures for ensuring safety of recovery operation personnel and visitors

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

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.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Resources for assessment must include access to

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, equipment, tools and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry including

• a recovery centre in the workplace or in a simulated workplace environment

• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operational manuals.