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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. Assist offenders to identify their need to change.
   • Check strategies for intervention with drug and alcohol behaviour for consistency with the organisation's policies and objectives.
   • Gather information on the client's behaviour and drug-taking or drinking history from a range of different sources.
   • Encourage client to review his/her behaviour and experiences with drugs or drinking honestly, realistically and critically.
   • Confirm and acknowledge client's past experiences with attempting to control use.
   • Respond promptly to signs of distress or crisis according to the context and emergency response guidelines.
   • Encourage client to assess and explore his/her level of commitment, the effect of incentives and the options for change that exist.
   • Assist client to identify realistic and achievable goals for change.
   • Assist client to develop a plan and timetable for action to achieve his/her goals.
2. Support clients to meet their goals.
   • Identify and provide information and resources required by clients to meet his/her goals according to availability and priorities.
   • Encourage and develop opportunities for the client to develop his/her own resources according to the service philosophy, guidelines and programs.
   • Respond promptly to significant departure from goals and report them according to organisation's procedures.
   • Allocate or provide individual counselling and group support according to client needs, goals and the suitability of available programs.
   • Gather information on offender progress from a range of different sources and match it against the goals and action plan.
   • Negotiate changes or adjustments needed with the offender and other interests.
   • Acknowledge offender progress and respond suitably.
   • Document and report outcomes according to requirements.

Required Skills

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

Required skills complying with the organisations security policies and operating procedures related to contact with offenders applying knowledge of statutory requirements relevant to work sector and candidates roles formal and informal negotiation with offenders adapting to the values needs and circumstances of people from different cultures using formal and informal communication methods with an awareness of environmental and sustainability factors using personal manual and electronic information creating formal and informal opportunities to recognise the achievement of goals using service networks inside and outside the organisation to optimise support and choices giving supportive feedback and counselling

Required knowledge organisations policies procedures practices guidelines and standards about drug and alcohol treatment and response and different theories of addiction security and contact with offenders case management interviewing programmed intervention based on behaviour management objectives referral and specialist support code of conduct and code of ethics duty of care confidentiality of information and freedom of information reporting and offender files use of resources legal and statutory responsibilities covering illegal substances prohibited substances and reporting incidents principles of case management as a behaviour change strategy programs available for offenders and their conditions for referral theories of human behaviour including offending behaviour behaviour control addictive behaviour mental health conditions peer pressure and control suicide and selfharm dominant and submissive roles pro and antisocial behaviour stereotypes of behaviour including social groups culture gender and age principles of specialised communication such as interviewing including special purpose interviews negotiation mediation counselling report presentation sources of information including offender information management system internal recording and reporting system specialist services justice information key people including offender and familyfriends colleagues community support services and support staff in other services

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
Overview of assessment	Candidates for assessment may work in generic offender management programs with offenders with a range of behaviour profiles and in the context of different levels and nature of risks or candidates may work in specialist programs with offenders with only one form of offending behaviour or risk management requirement 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 ability to assist offenders with drug and alcoholrelated issues in a range of two or more contexts or occasions over time
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Where this unit specifies performance in areas with unpredictable and high risk implications assessment in simulations should be used as well as retrospective documentation and observation of performance working with vulnerable offenders 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 responsible for assisting offenders to address issues arising from drug and alcohol use as part of a coordinated team including coping with difficulties irregularities and changes to routine copies of legislation policies procedures and guidelines relating to assisting offenders to address issues arising from drug and alcohol use 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 andor oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding completion of workplace documents and reports produced as part of routine work activities thirdparty 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

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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. 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.
Support for clients will include:	counselling building trust and rapport personal planning resources to support change strategies referral to programs referral to specialist support advocacy with other services and with family and community support cooperating and collaborating with team members recording and reporting accurately responding to emergencies adapting services for suitability and flexibility giving constructive and supportive feedback maintaining professional confidentiality.

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