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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Work within the context of the mental health sector
  2. Develop knowledge of the mental health sector
  3. Demonstrate commitment to the central philosophies and standards of the mental health sector
  4. Work with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Required Skills

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

Essential knowledge

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively perform task skills task management skills contingency management skills and jobrole environment skills as outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit

These include knowledge of

Impact of stigma

Factsmyths about mental illness and psychiatric disability

Principles of disability

Principles of community delivered service provision

Importance of consumer input

Holistic and clientcentred care

Consumer needs and rights including duty of care

Principles of client empowermentdisempowerment

Principles of access and equity

Awareness of policy regulatory legislative and legal requirements including

Carers Recognition Act

community counselling orders

community treatment orders

Criminal Law Mentally Impaired Defendants Act

Disability ServicesDiscrimination Acts and standards

equal employment opportunity principles

Freedom of Information Act

Guardianship Board

individual rights

mental health acts

national mental health policy and plan

national mental health service standards

national practice standards for the mental health workforce

occupational health and safety OHS standards

Privacy Act

United Nations Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental illness and the Improvement of Health Care

Involuntary and voluntary admission to hospital

National standards for mental health services

Historical and social context

Political and economic context

Current issues facing clients and existing services to address their needs and rights

Understanding of regulations and guidelines governing the handling of medication

Principles and practices of ethics and values

Principles and practices of confidentiality

continued

Essential knowledge contd

Principles and practice of duty of care

Major psychiatric illnesses

Early intervention

Legal system

courts

police powers

court reports

tribunals

parole

community treatment orders

Indigenous Australian culture

Knowledge specific to working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Knowledge specific to working with people at risk of selfharm

Awareness of available government benefits in areas such as housing and accommodation and finance

Principles of clinical governance

Essential skills

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to

Demonstrate application of understanding of underpinning values philosophies and standards applying to work in the mental health sector

Evidence Required

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

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

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

This unit is best assessed on the job or in a simulated workplace under the normal range of conditions

Consistency in performance should consider the requirements of the particular workplace context

Access and equity considerations

All workers in community services should be aware of access equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities workers should be aware of cultural historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal andor Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit can be assessed independently however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged

Resources required for assessment of this unit include access to a workplace or simulated workplace where assessment may occur

Method of assessment

In cases where the learner does not have the opportunity to cover all relevant aspects in the work environment the remainder should be assessed through realistic simulations projects previous relevant experience or oral questioning on What if scenarios

Assessment of this unit of competence will usually include observation of processes and procedures oral andor written questioning on Essential knowledge and skills and consideration of required attitudes

Where performance is not directly observed andor is required to be demonstrated over a period of time andor in a number of locations any evidence should be authenticated by colleagues supervisors clients or other appropriate persons


Range Statement

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. 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.

Context includes:

Statutory framework within which work takes place

Historical context of work e.g. Changing attitudes to mental health; changing approaches to working with clients

Changing social context of work e.g. Consumer centred approach, changing government and societal views of mental health, approaches to working with clients, deinstitutionalisation

Political context e.g. Government policies and initiatives affecting mental health work, mainstreaming

Economic context e.g. The current economic situation as it relates to and affects mental health and the subsequent impact on client needs

Facts/myths about mental illness and psychiatric disability

Different models of work may include:

Community development and education

Mental health promotion

Case management

Working with families and carers

Clubhouse

Psychosocial rehabilitation

Supported employment

Peer support/self help

Crisis situation responses

Early intervention/prevention

Consumer run models

Clinical mental health services

Residential services

Respite care

Home based support

Acute, continuing and rehabilitation models

Stakeholders and representatives may include:

Consumers

Carers

Friends, peers and target group

Families and care givers

Local community

Community organisations

Government representatives and service providers

Clinical mental health services

Peak bodies and networks in the sector

Management, colleagues, supervisor, team members

The underpinning values and philosophy of the sector may include:

A holistic and consumer-centred approach

Family sensitive approaches

Community education

Promotion of mental health and well being

Early intervention

Delivery of appropriate services

Commitment to meeting the needs and upholding the rights of consumers

Commitment to empowering the consumer

Encouragement of personal growth and development toward recovery and wellness

Commitment to access and equity principles includes:

Creation of a consumer oriented culture

A non-discriminatory approach to all people using the service, their family, carer/s and friends, the general public and co-workers

Ensuring the work undertaken takes account of and caters for differences including: cultural, physical, religious, economic, social

Culturally and linguistically diversemay include:

Different cultural and social contexts

The needs of indigenous Australians

The needs of people from non-English speaking backgrounds

Social variables such as social attitudes to mental illness