Assessor Resource

CHCCCS003
Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit describes the skills and knowledge to identify and manage immediate suicide risk and work with the individual to achieve safe outcomes. It includes the requirements for developing a clear safety plan for addressing any immediate danger to the person at risk or others, mobilising access to emergency medical help when needed and facilitating links with further support.

This unit applies to people in formal helping roles in any community service context. Suicide safety may involve face-to-face, telephone or remote contact with the person involved.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

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

1. Identify and assess the person’s current suicide risk

1.1 Recognise and respond to signs indicating that a person may be considering suicide

1.2 Explore any indications, direct or indirect, that the person may be considering suicide

1.3 Ask specifically about thoughts of suicide whenever there are grounds for concern

1.4 Inform and facilitate the intervention by seeking understanding of why the person is considering suicide and what links them to life

2. Collaborate to increase immediate safety

2.1 Build a collaborative empathic helping relationship that acknowledges how thoughts of suicide and the pain behind them may affect their safety

2.2 Listen to what lies behind any thoughts of suicide while affirming and strengthening life connections and safety support

2.3 Work with the person to develop and implement a safety plan that reduces immediate danger to the person and others

2.4 Mobilise access to emergency services when needed

2.5 Comply with all laws, relevant ethical guidelines and policy requirements that affect duty of care and seek any advice from workplace supervisor

3. Facilitate links to further support

3.1 Empower the person at risk to make informed choices about further help

3.2 Maintain rapport to encourage discussion of on-going concerns

3.3 Help the person identify coping strategies to manage recurrence of suicidal thoughts

3.4 Determine whether underlying mental health concerns or personal circumstances are present and facilitate access to appropriate help

3.5 Explore possible barriers to seeking or accepting help and develop responses

3.6 Explore what has helped the person survive any previous suicide attempts

3.7 Develop a plan with the individual that includes agreed first steps to access and use informal supports and professional help

3.8 Refer to appropriate professionals as required

4. Review and report on support provided

4.1 Document suicide safety plan and follow up action according to evidence informed standards of care and relevant organisation requirements

4.2 Communicate relevant information to work colleagues and other people working with the person

4.3 Reflect on own role in providing support and use learning to enhance future practice

4.4 Identify and respond to the need for own supervision and debriefing

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

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

1. Identify and assess the person’s current suicide risk

1.1 Recognise and respond to signs indicating that a person may be considering suicide

1.2 Explore any indications, direct or indirect, that the person may be considering suicide

1.3 Ask specifically about thoughts of suicide whenever there are grounds for concern

1.4 Inform and facilitate the intervention by seeking understanding of why the person is considering suicide and what links them to life

2. Collaborate to increase immediate safety

2.1 Build a collaborative empathic helping relationship that acknowledges how thoughts of suicide and the pain behind them may affect their safety

2.2 Listen to what lies behind any thoughts of suicide while affirming and strengthening life connections and safety support

2.3 Work with the person to develop and implement a safety plan that reduces immediate danger to the person and others

2.4 Mobilise access to emergency services when needed

2.5 Comply with all laws, relevant ethical guidelines and policy requirements that affect duty of care and seek any advice from workplace supervisor

3. Facilitate links to further support

3.1 Empower the person at risk to make informed choices about further help

3.2 Maintain rapport to encourage discussion of on-going concerns

3.3 Help the person identify coping strategies to manage recurrence of suicidal thoughts

3.4 Determine whether underlying mental health concerns or personal circumstances are present and facilitate access to appropriate help

3.5 Explore possible barriers to seeking or accepting help and develop responses

3.6 Explore what has helped the person survive any previous suicide attempts

3.7 Develop a plan with the individual that includes agreed first steps to access and use informal supports and professional help

3.8 Refer to appropriate professionals as required

4. Review and report on support provided

4.1 Document suicide safety plan and follow up action according to evidence informed standards of care and relevant organisation requirements

4.2 Communicate relevant information to work colleagues and other people working with the person

4.3 Reflect on own role in providing support and use learning to enhance future practice

4.4 Identify and respond to the need for own supervision and debriefing

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
 
Recognise and respond to signs indicating that a person may be considering suicide 
Explore any indications, direct or indirect, that the person may be considering suicide 
Ask specifically about thoughts of suicide whenever there are grounds for concern 
Inform and facilitate the intervention by seeking understanding of why the person is considering suicide and what links them to life 
Build a collaborative empathic helping relationship that acknowledges how thoughts of suicide and the pain behind them may affect their safety 
Listen to what lies behind any thoughts of suicide while affirming and strengthening life connections and safety support 
Work with the person to develop and implement a safety plan that reduces immediate danger to the person and others 
Mobilise access to emergency services when needed 
Comply with all laws, relevant ethical guidelines and policy requirements that affect duty of care and seek any advice from workplace supervisor 
Empower the person at risk to make informed choices about further help 
Maintain rapport to encourage discussion of on-going concerns 
Help the person identify coping strategies to manage recurrence of suicidal thoughts 
Determine whether underlying mental health concerns or personal circumstances are present and facilitate access to appropriate help 
Explore possible barriers to seeking or accepting help and develop responses 
Explore what has helped the person survive any previous suicide attempts 
Develop a plan with the individual that includes agreed first steps to access and use informal supports and professional help 
Refer to appropriate professionals as required 
Document suicide safety plan and follow up action according to evidence informed standards of care and relevant organisation requirements 
Communicate relevant information to work colleagues and other people working with the person 
Reflect on own role in providing support and use learning to enhance future practice 
Identify and respond to the need for own supervision and debriefing 
Recognise and respond to signs indicating that a person may be considering suicide 
Explore any indications, direct or indirect, that the person may be considering suicide 
Ask specifically about thoughts of suicide whenever there are grounds for concern 
Inform and facilitate the intervention by seeking understanding of why the person is considering suicide and what links them to life 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CHCCCS003 - Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

CHCCCS003 - Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: