Assessor Resource

CHCFAM005
Facilitate and monitor contact

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to facilitate and monitor the contact between the child/children and the non-resident parent in situations where the facilitated contact may be either voluntary (initiated by the family) or involuntary (result of court order).

This unit applies to children’s contact services workers operating according the requirements of the Family Law Act 1975.

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. Establish and commence the contact visit

1.1 Clarify contact or court orders with supervisor before contact occurs

1.2 Establish rapport with parents and child/young person and parents at commencement of contact visit

1.3 Reinforce parameters of facilitated contact with parents including reporting processes

1.4 Conduct risk assessment with both parties on commencement of contact visit

1.5 Use negotiation skills to seek agreement from both parties to establish a plan for facilitated contact

1.6 Plan, in consultation with parents and child/young person, for the facilitated contact to occur with age appropriate activities

2. Monitor contact between child/young person and non resident parent

2.1 Monitor behaviours and safety of the child/young person with minimal intervention during contact with non resident parents

2.2 Manage any challenging behaviour of both parents and child/young person

2.3 Intervene in contact between child/young person and parent where appropriate

2.4 Seek support of peers or senior staff as needed

2.5 Communicate effectively with parents and children in a consistent and culturally appropriate way to model respectful parenting and relationships

2.6 Direct the contact and keep interaction flowing between parent, child and/or young person

2.7 Respond to complaints from either party according to organisation policy

2.8 Refer family or individuals to other services according to organisation policy and assessed client needs

2.9 Terminate contact when necessary in line with organisation procedures and report actions to immediate supervisor

3. Documentinformation about facilitated contact

3.1 Prepare reports according to organisation policy

3.2 Create files and write case notes according to organisation policy

3.3 Complete incident reports when required

3.4 Revise arrangements for facilitated contact

3.5 Demonstrate confidentiality and privacy policy of the organisation in when recording and managing client information

4. Participate in strategies to improve services for families

4.1 Attend regular staff meetings and debriefing sessions with peers

4.2 Participate in regular professional development to ensure procedures reflect legislative and industry requirements

4.3 Consult on all difficult operations with senior staff according to organisation requirements

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

• followed all required processes to facilitate and monitor at least 5 contact sessions for different clients presenting with varied circumstances, including situations where there are:

• involuntary or resistant children

• challenging adult behaviours

• parents with mental health or alcohol and other drugs issues

• communicated effectively with vulnerable or hostile parents and children in crisis using the following interpersonal skills:

• listening and understanding

• speaking clearly and directly

• rapport building

• negotiating responsively

• persuading effectively

• being appropriately assertive

• empathising

• using age appropriate language

• using neutral language.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

• legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for workers in children’s contact services , and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:

• codes of conduct

• discrimination

• duty of care

• human rights

• mandatory reporting

• privacy, confidentiality and disclosure and limitation in children’s contact services work

• records management and reporting

• rights and responsibilities of workers and employers

• specific legislation that impacts contact monitoring in children’s contact services work, including

o child protection legislation

o family law

o domestic and family violence laws

• types of orders that may be in place and how to work within them

• work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations

• work health and safety, including risk management

• communication techniques and their appropriateness in different situations, including:

• listening and understanding

• speaking clearly and directly

• rapport building

• negotiating responsively

• persuading effectively

• being appropriately assertive

• empathising

• using age appropriate language

• using neutral language

• factors affecting family dynamics and particularly children, with incidents or history of high levels of parental conflict, violence, abuse or mental health concerns

• family systems and how this is relevant to the role of contact worker in the contact process

• child developmental norms at different ages and stages

• separation anxiety and attachment theory, child development, loss and grief issues and family violence and how this is relevant to the role of contact worker in the contact process, particularly observing child’s emotional reaction and interactions with carers/parents

• factors that may impact both children and parents behaviour in contact visits

• impact of high conflict in post separation involving children

• reactions of children experiencing re victimisation and who are affected by trauma

• how the observer role can influence the interaction and behaviour of others

• emergency response procedures in situations of critical incidents eventuating from a breakdown in the contact

• case work practices and how to contribute to these process through documentation and consultation with senior staff or supervisors

• local support services available to clients needing external information, support or interventions

• potential reasons to terminate contact including:

• safety concerns for child and/or adult

• actual incident of breach of agreed standards

• parent self selects to terminate

• child distress

• issues of a legal nature arise

• senior worker determines it appropriate or necessary to terminate the contact.

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

• use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:

- client information

- family law information

- organisation policies and procedures

- venue for contact visit

• modelling of industry operating conditions, including:

- scenarios that involve interactions with other people, including children

- scenarios that involve problem-solving.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.


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. Establish and commence the contact visit

1.1 Clarify contact or court orders with supervisor before contact occurs

1.2 Establish rapport with parents and child/young person and parents at commencement of contact visit

1.3 Reinforce parameters of facilitated contact with parents including reporting processes

1.4 Conduct risk assessment with both parties on commencement of contact visit

1.5 Use negotiation skills to seek agreement from both parties to establish a plan for facilitated contact

1.6 Plan, in consultation with parents and child/young person, for the facilitated contact to occur with age appropriate activities

2. Monitor contact between child/young person and non resident parent

2.1 Monitor behaviours and safety of the child/young person with minimal intervention during contact with non resident parents

2.2 Manage any challenging behaviour of both parents and child/young person

2.3 Intervene in contact between child/young person and parent where appropriate

2.4 Seek support of peers or senior staff as needed

2.5 Communicate effectively with parents and children in a consistent and culturally appropriate way to model respectful parenting and relationships

2.6 Direct the contact and keep interaction flowing between parent, child and/or young person

2.7 Respond to complaints from either party according to organisation policy

2.8 Refer family or individuals to other services according to organisation policy and assessed client needs

2.9 Terminate contact when necessary in line with organisation procedures and report actions to immediate supervisor

3. Documentinformation about facilitated contact

3.1 Prepare reports according to organisation policy

3.2 Create files and write case notes according to organisation policy

3.3 Complete incident reports when required

3.4 Revise arrangements for facilitated contact

3.5 Demonstrate confidentiality and privacy policy of the organisation in when recording and managing client information

4. Participate in strategies to improve services for families

4.1 Attend regular staff meetings and debriefing sessions with peers

4.2 Participate in regular professional development to ensure procedures reflect legislative and industry requirements

4.3 Consult on all difficult operations with senior staff according to organisation requirements

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

• followed all required processes to facilitate and monitor at least 5 contact sessions for different clients presenting with varied circumstances, including situations where there are:

• involuntary or resistant children

• challenging adult behaviours

• parents with mental health or alcohol and other drugs issues

• communicated effectively with vulnerable or hostile parents and children in crisis using the following interpersonal skills:

• listening and understanding

• speaking clearly and directly

• rapport building

• negotiating responsively

• persuading effectively

• being appropriately assertive

• empathising

• using age appropriate language

• using neutral language.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

• legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for workers in children’s contact services , and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:

• codes of conduct

• discrimination

• duty of care

• human rights

• mandatory reporting

• privacy, confidentiality and disclosure and limitation in children’s contact services work

• records management and reporting

• rights and responsibilities of workers and employers

• specific legislation that impacts contact monitoring in children’s contact services work, including

o child protection legislation

o family law

o domestic and family violence laws

• types of orders that may be in place and how to work within them

• work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations

• work health and safety, including risk management

• communication techniques and their appropriateness in different situations, including:

• listening and understanding

• speaking clearly and directly

• rapport building

• negotiating responsively

• persuading effectively

• being appropriately assertive

• empathising

• using age appropriate language

• using neutral language

• factors affecting family dynamics and particularly children, with incidents or history of high levels of parental conflict, violence, abuse or mental health concerns

• family systems and how this is relevant to the role of contact worker in the contact process

• child developmental norms at different ages and stages

• separation anxiety and attachment theory, child development, loss and grief issues and family violence and how this is relevant to the role of contact worker in the contact process, particularly observing child’s emotional reaction and interactions with carers/parents

• factors that may impact both children and parents behaviour in contact visits

• impact of high conflict in post separation involving children

• reactions of children experiencing re victimisation and who are affected by trauma

• how the observer role can influence the interaction and behaviour of others

• emergency response procedures in situations of critical incidents eventuating from a breakdown in the contact

• case work practices and how to contribute to these process through documentation and consultation with senior staff or supervisors

• local support services available to clients needing external information, support or interventions

• potential reasons to terminate contact including:

• safety concerns for child and/or adult

• actual incident of breach of agreed standards

• parent self selects to terminate

• child distress

• issues of a legal nature arise

• senior worker determines it appropriate or necessary to terminate the contact.

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

• use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:

- client information

- family law information

- organisation policies and procedures

- venue for contact visit

• modelling of industry operating conditions, including:

- scenarios that involve interactions with other people, including children

- scenarios that involve problem-solving.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

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
 
Clarify contact or court orders with supervisor before contact occurs 
Establish rapport with parents and child/young person and parents at commencement of contact visit 
Reinforce parameters of facilitated contact with parents including reporting processes 
Conduct risk assessment with both parties on commencement of contact visit 
Use negotiation skills to seek agreement from both parties to establish a plan for facilitated contact 
Plan, in consultation with parents and child/young person, for the facilitated contact to occur with age appropriate activities 
Monitor behaviours and safety of the child/young person with minimal intervention during contact with non resident parents 
Manage any challenging behaviour of both parents and child/young person 
Intervene in contact between child/young person and parent where appropriate 
 
Communicate effectively with parents and children in a consistent and culturally appropriate way to model respectful parenting and relationships 
Direct the contact and keep interaction flowing between parent, child and/or young person 
Respond to complaints from either party according to organisation policy 
Refer family or individuals to other services according to organisation policy and assessed client needs 
Terminate contact when necessary in line with organisation procedures and report actions to immediate supervisor 
Prepare reports according to organisation policy 
Create files and write case notes according to organisation policy 
Complete incident reports when required 
Revise arrangements for facilitated contact 
Demonstrate confidentiality and privacy policy of the organisation in when recording and managing client information 
Attend regular staff meetings and debriefing sessions with peers 
Participate in regular professional development to ensure procedures reflect legislative and industry requirements 
Consult on all difficult operations with senior staff according to organisation requirements 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CHCFAM005 - Facilitate and monitor contact
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

CHCFAM005 - Facilitate and monitor contact

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: