Assessor Resource

CSCOFM004
Protect the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit describes the skills required to maintain current information on vulnerable offenders and reduce their risks.

This unit applies to those responsible for the supervision of vulnerable offenders in prisons, secure custodial centres and in the community. Vulnerable offenders include, but are not limited to, those who fall into the following risk categories:

suicide and self-harm

physical and intellectual disability

mental illness

physical, emotional and sexual abuse

drug and substance abuse

children and young people

first timer/returnee

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to, particularly those related to interaction with offenders and referral processes.

Those undertaking this unit work with moderate support at routine tasks involving a number of familiar steps.

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

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.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Maintain current information

1.1 Check all information available on vulnerable offenders.

1.2 Assess the background of the offender for indicators of special needs and factors to consider.

1.3 Confirm the services and support required to ensure that sentencing and assessment requirements will be met.

1.4 Assist offenders to understand the conditions of the correctional environment and court orders and clarify their expectations of the services to be provided.

1.5 Assist offenders to express concerns and issues and respond to these according to level of risk and urgency.

1.6 Prepare reports and documentation of all action and decisions and report all concerns promptly to the relevant support.

1.7 Comply with all policies, procedures and agreed practice of your organisation.

2. Reduce the risks to offenders

2.1 Identify areas of concern and risk in behaviour and the environment and respond to prevent impact on the welfare of all people involved.

2.2 Ensure that the environment is safe and healthy, and maintained according to agreed standards and conditions.

2.3 Observe the offender’s routine to monitor changes in mood and behaviour and potential risks.

2.4 Use interaction with offender to identify behaviour change and any associated risk.

2.5 Monitor movements and transfers of offenders.

2.6 Seek specialist advice and support where needs and concerns are identified.

2.7 Refer offenders to specialist services or programs where available.

2.8 Promote and maintain the rights and responsibilities of the offender.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least two occasions.

writing clear, accurate and relevant reports on offender behaviour and routines

establishing and maintaining a supportive professional relationship with offenders

adapting responses to different special needs and situations

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

indicators of risk, types of abuse and people who are particularly vulnerable, including indicators of:

suicide and self-harm

mental illness

addiction and drug use

inappropriate relationships and sexual behaviour

physical and intellectual disability

organisation's policies and procedures related to protecting offenders from risk and harm and reporting risks and incidents

offender management system

range of specialist support services and programs available to offenders at risk

processes for getting advice and assistance

Evidence for assessment must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments.

Valid assessment of this unit requires a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered by an individual working with vulnerable or at risk offenders effectively as part of a coordinated team, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and changes to routine.

This unit has been identified by industry as suitable for holistic assessment with:

CSCORG002 Communicate effectively

CSCOFM005 Protect the safety and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait offenders

Refer to advice in the CSC Assessment Guide.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/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.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.

1. Maintain current information

1.1 Check all information available on vulnerable offenders.

1.2 Assess the background of the offender for indicators of special needs and factors to consider.

1.3 Confirm the services and support required to ensure that sentencing and assessment requirements will be met.

1.4 Assist offenders to understand the conditions of the correctional environment and court orders and clarify their expectations of the services to be provided.

1.5 Assist offenders to express concerns and issues and respond to these according to level of risk and urgency.

1.6 Prepare reports and documentation of all action and decisions and report all concerns promptly to the relevant support.

1.7 Comply with all policies, procedures and agreed practice of your organisation.

2. Reduce the risks to offenders

2.1 Identify areas of concern and risk in behaviour and the environment and respond to prevent impact on the welfare of all people involved.

2.2 Ensure that the environment is safe and healthy, and maintained according to agreed standards and conditions.

2.3 Observe the offender’s routine to monitor changes in mood and behaviour and potential risks.

2.4 Use interaction with offender to identify behaviour change and any associated risk.

2.5 Monitor movements and transfers of offenders.

2.6 Seek specialist advice and support where needs and concerns are identified.

2.7 Refer offenders to specialist services or programs where available.

2.8 Promote and maintain the rights and responsibilities of the offender.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least two occasions.

writing clear, accurate and relevant reports on offender behaviour and routines

establishing and maintaining a supportive professional relationship with offenders

adapting responses to different special needs and situations

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

indicators of risk, types of abuse and people who are particularly vulnerable, including indicators of:

suicide and self-harm

mental illness

addiction and drug use

inappropriate relationships and sexual behaviour

physical and intellectual disability

organisation's policies and procedures related to protecting offenders from risk and harm and reporting risks and incidents

offender management system

range of specialist support services and programs available to offenders at risk

processes for getting advice and assistance

Evidence for assessment must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments.

Valid assessment of this unit requires a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered by an individual working with vulnerable or at risk offenders effectively as part of a coordinated team, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and changes to routine.

This unit has been identified by industry as suitable for holistic assessment with:

CSCORG002 Communicate effectively

CSCOFM005 Protect the safety and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait offenders

Refer to advice in the CSC Assessment Guide.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/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
Check all information available on vulnerable offenders. 
Assess the background of the offender for indicators of special needs and factors to consider. 
Confirm the services and support required to ensure that sentencing and assessment requirements will be met. 
Assist offenders to understand the conditions of the correctional environment and court orders and clarify their expectations of the services to be provided. 
Assist offenders to express concerns and issues and respond to these according to level of risk and urgency. 
Prepare reports and documentation of all action and decisions and report all concerns promptly to the relevant support. 
Comply with all policies, procedures and agreed practice of your organisation. 
Identify areas of concern and risk in behaviour and the environment and respond to prevent impact on the welfare of all people involved. 
Ensure that the environment is safe and healthy, and maintained according to agreed standards and conditions. 
Observe the offender’s routine to monitor changes in mood and behaviour and potential risks. 
Use interaction with offender to identify behaviour change and any associated risk. 
Monitor movements and transfers of offenders. 
Seek specialist advice and support where needs and concerns are identified. 
Refer offenders to specialist services or programs where available. 
Promote and maintain the rights and responsibilities of the offender. 
Check all information available on vulnerable offenders. 
Assess the background of the offender for indicators of special needs and factors to consider. 
Confirm the services and support required to ensure that sentencing and assessment requirements will be met. 
Assist offenders to understand the conditions of the correctional environment and court orders and clarify their expectations of the services to be provided. 
Assist offenders to express concerns and issues and respond to these according to level of risk and urgency. 
Prepare reports and documentation of all action and decisions and report all concerns promptly to the relevant support. 
Comply with all policies, procedures and agreed practice of your organisation. 
Identify areas of concern and risk in behaviour and the environment and respond to prevent impact on the welfare of all people involved. 
Ensure that the environment is safe and healthy, and maintained according to agreed standards and conditions. 
Observe the offender’s routine to monitor changes in mood and behaviour and potential risks. 
Use interaction with offender to identify behaviour change and any associated risk. 
Monitor movements and transfers of offenders. 
Seek specialist advice and support where needs and concerns are identified. 
Refer offenders to specialist services or programs where available. 
Promote and maintain the rights and responsibilities of the offender. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CSCOFM004 - Protect the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders
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

CSCOFM004 - Protect the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders

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: