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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Elements define the essential outcomes
  2. Plan response
  3. Gather information about the risk or actual harm
  4. Analyse information
  5. Develop case strategies
  6. Monitor and evaluate case strategies

Performance Evidence

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:

performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit in the workplace

conducted child protection risk assessments for at least 5 different children, including:

engaging in a structured process of critical analysis according to the assessment model

determining the child’s level of risk according to legislation, policies and procedures and the information gathered

documenting the outcome and articulating in writing comprehensive rationale for decision-making process using approved organisation tools

conducted child protection risk assessments that individually or cumulatively involve the follow situations:

need for specialist assessments

drug and alcohol use/abuse

mental health concerns

physical health and ability considerations

intellectual disability

domestic and family violence

developed, documented and monitored case strategies for at least 5 different children

collaborated with both internal and external colleagues and specialist practitioners.


Knowledge Evidence

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 for child protection work, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:

challenges associated with potential tensions between own and organisation values

children in the workplace and child-focused practice, including issues for children in dealing with the legal system

codes of conduct

discrimination

duty of care

human rights

mandatory reporting

practitioner/client boundaries

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

policy frameworks

records management

rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients, including legal services available to the client and notification protocols

specific legislative frameworks that apply to child protection risk assessment, including:

roles and responsibilities of key bodies within the child protection system including their powers, orders and processes

legal options available to children and families

child protection

witness legislation

bail conditions to protect children

role of the independent child lawyer in the Family Court jurisdictions

criminal injuries compensation

orders under domestic violence legislation

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations

work health and safety

concept of risk in a child protection context

situations requiring immediate intervention

theoretical and practical frameworks for issues in child protection assessment, including:

abuse

types – psychological, physical, sexual, neglect, domestic violence

indicators

impact on child and adolescent development

intergenerational abuse and how to respond

harm

definition

dynamics

indicators

factors that increase or reduce vulnerability, severity and probability

trauma – types and impacts

family systems theory and its application to child protection work

nature of collaboration in the child protection context

factors that impact vulnerability, and how these are evaluated in the risk assessment process, including:

child's age and developmental stage, physical, social and emotional wellbeing

immediate/actual evidence of harm

availability of family/other protective support systems

isolation

previous history of harm and intervention needs

commitment to engage to reduce/eliminate risk of harm

ability and capacity to address the situation

admissions/disclosure information

factors that affect family functioning and their impact on the risk assessment process, including:

drug and alcohol use/abuse

mental health concerns

physical health and ability

intellectual disability

domestic and family violence

family dynamics in different cultures and the cultural issues that inform child protection work

sources of information that inform risk assessment, and how to analyse these, including:

consulting with relevant people known to the child and their circumstances

notifier information

previous child protection history

specialist assessments, how and when they are used, including:

forensic

medical

criminal

psychosocial

developmental

organisation standards, policies and procedures in relation to:

documentation processes and organisation information systems and tools to be used for complex risk assessment

information sharing and referral protocols

interagency practices

critical incident reporting

options and requirements for action in response to differing assessment results

roles and functions of support agencies and processes

contemporary approaches to respectful and professional standards for case documentation.