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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. Provide information to community about substance misuse
   • Ensure substance misuse information is accurate and easily accessed and understood by community
   • Obtain further information as needed
   • Encourage individuals to seek advice for their own circumstances
3. Assess whether individuals are misusing substances
   • Obtain a client history and records according to organisation guidelines
   • Use culturally appropriate and safe communication skills to undertake and record assessment of individual
   • Maintain client confidentiality
4. Plan and implement follow-up action
   • Plan follow-up action in consultation with other health professionals and key community workers
   • Ensure follow-up action is in line with community,legislative and organisationguidelines
   • Refer client to appropriate services in line with individual and community needs and organisation guidelines
   • Monitor the follow-up plan and record outcomes

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:

provided accurate and accessible information about substance misuse to the community on at least three occasions by:

- consulting with the primary health care team to determine the information to provide

- communicating the information to members of the community in culturally appropriate and safe ways

- using different mediums to support access to information

worked with the primary health care team to support at least three individual clients by:

- analysing client history and records to assess possible substance misuse for each client

- planning follow-up action consultation with relevant community and/or health professionals

- implementing and monitoring follow-up plans.

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role.

This includes knowledge of:

physical, social and psychological effects of misuse of substances identified in this unit

treatment options relating to specific substance misuse

community issues and legislation relating to substance misuse

patterns of drug and alcohol consumption relevant to the community and region

service providers and associated referral processes

understanding of blood-borne viruses in relation to injecting drug use, and associated high rates of HIV and hepatitis C in this Aboriginal population group

indirect impacts of substance misuse, including:

- foetal alcohol syndrome

- environmental tobacco smoke

principles of harm minimisation (as Australia’s national policy), including:

- harm reduction

- supply reduction

- demand reduction

impact of substance misuse on the healthy functioning of major body organs and systems

likely interactions between chronic illness and substance misuse

impact of substance abuse on pregnancy, birth and unborn children.

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