Assessor Resource

CSCOFM301A
Protect the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required for providing safe and responsible care for offenders who are at risk from themselves or from others.

Customisation will be required to accommodate the different work sites and defined work role contexts in which this unit will be applied.

This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to provide safe and responsible care for offenders who are vulnerable, or at risk from themselves or others.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to CSCOFM004A Protect the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders.

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

Prerequisites

Not applicable

Co-Requisites

Not applicable

Employability Skills

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of employability skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged, will assist in identifying employability skills requirements.



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.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, the range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Overview of assessment

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.

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

In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms:

the knowledge requirements of this unit

the skill requirements of this unit

application of employability skills as they relate to this unit.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit contains a wide range of variables to reflect the diverse nature of dealing with vulnerable offenders in a correctional services setting. Selection from the range of variables will reflect the specific requirements of the work site and the defined work role.

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

copies of legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines relating to protecting the safety and welfare of vulnerable offenders

access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

observation of performance in routine workplace activities within a range of agreed responsibilities and in various work locations

written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding

completion of workplace documents and reports produced as part of routine work activities

third-party reports from experienced practitioners

completion of performance feedback from supervisors and colleagues.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, and any identified special needs of the candidate, including language and literacy implications and cultural factors that may affect responses to the questions.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge.

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.

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

Required skills:

applying your organisation's policies, procedures and agreed practices aimed at protecting offenders from risk and harm

checking and analysing information for factors relevant to the safety and welfare of offenders

checking and analysing information for assessment of risks, special needs and developmental levels

providing clear, accurate and relevant recording and reporting

establishing a supportive professional relationship with offenders

maintaining a safe and protective environment

preserving the rights and responsibilities of offenders

providing supervision and care, based on assessed risk and justifiable degree of care

adapting responses to different special needs

responding to a range of different emergencies

participating in consultation with specialist advisers.

Required knowledge:

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

suicide

mutilation and self-harm

physical violence

mental illness

sexual abuse

addiction and drug use

eating disorders

inappropriate relationships and sexual behaviour

provocative actions and behaviour

intellectual development

personality issues, aberrant behaviour and psychological deviance in the context of the prison environment and the correctional system

procedures and requirements for reporting risks and incidents involving offenders, including work site reporting processes and organisation's offender information system

legislation relevant to your roles and responsibilities

service guidelines, such as:

reporting sexual and other abuse

responding to emergencies

reporting incidents

supervision and surveillance of at-risk offenders

protective supervision of offenders at risk of harm

access to information and restriction of access

appropriate relationships with offenders

appropriate relationships with colleagues

rights and responsibilities of offenders

referrals

suicide prevention strategy

organisation's code of conduct, code of ethics and duty of care

recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

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

processes for getting advice and assistance when there are problems.

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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Services and support required may be determined by:

case management

programmed intervention

classification and review

need and risk assessment

reporting and referring systems

protective care

routine reports

review of sentence plan

investigations

appeals

swearing summons and warrant

service of summons and breaches

monitoring court process and outcomes

dynamic security

security system.

Areas of concern and risk may include:

suicide and self-harm

physical injury and accidents

assaulting and harming others

illness and infection

physical, emotional and sexual abuse

risk taking

criminal actions

breaching conditions

escape

drug and substance abuse.

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 offender and confirm the actions required from the information. 
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. 
Use continuous observation and questioning to identify indicators of increased risk in offender mood and behaviour. 
Assist offender to express concerns and issues and respond to these according to level of risk and urgency. 
Assess the background of the offender for indicators of special needs and factors to consider. 
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 the 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 determine changes and degree of risks. 
Monitor movements and transfers of people according to organisation's procedures. 
Seek specialist advice and support where needs and concerns are identified. 
Refer offender to specialist services or programs where available. 
Promote and maintain the rights and responsibilities of the offender as defined by the organisation and its policies. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CSCOFM301A - 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

CSCOFM301A - 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: