Google Links

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. Assess social and emotional needs
   • Seek relevant information to determine client’s current mental/emotional state and history
   • Observe behaviour and body language and note unusual behaviour
   • Communicate effectively with the client using culturally appropriate and safe language and interactions, to identify underlying social and emotional needs and issues
   • Make a risk assessment in relation to potential for suicide, self-harm and/or violence
   • Develop a social and emotional health care plan that addresses client’s needs, in consultation with the client and relevant health care team
   • Maintain confidentiality in line with organisation requirements
   • Identify issues requiring mandatory notification and report to an appropriate authority
3. Support a client’s social and emotional wellbeing
   • Implement and review client’s social and emotional health care plan in line with their needs and organisation procedures
   • Provide relevant information to support the client to make informed decisions about addressing social and emotional wellbeing issues
   • Support individual clients to implement, maintain and review self-care strategies
   • Monitor and review application of stress reduction techniques and activities by clients, as required to maintain and/or enhance effectiveness
   • Provide referral as required, to maintain and/or enhance social and emotional wellbeing in line with individual, community and organisation requirements
4. Provide social/emotional support in the workplace
   • Encourage and support staff to address the personal impact of dealing with client social and emotional wellbeing issues
   • Make debriefing sessions readily available and conduct with staff in groups and/or one-on-one
   • Support staff to access professional assistance as appropriate, including referrals
   • Provide education and awareness programs as required to support staff and enhance their self-awareness and support personal development
   • Support staff to acknowledge the impact of the shared history of transgenerational trauma
   • Manage serious or potentially serious issues referred by other staff with sensitivity and professionalism
5. Support a client’s social and emotional wellbeing
   • Implement and review client’s social and emotional health care plan in line with their needs and organisation procedures
   • Provide relevant information to support the client to make informed decisions about addressing social and emotional wellbeing issues
   • Support individual clients to implement, maintain and review self-care strategies
   • Monitor and review application of stress reduction techniques and activities by clients, as required to maintain and/or enhance effectiveness
   • Provide referral as required, to maintain and/or enhance social and emotional wellbeing in line with individual, community and organisation requirements

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 support and promoted social and emotional wellbeing for at least three clients by:

communicating in a culturally appropriate and safe manner at all times with each client to gain confidence, trust and client history

assessing social and emotional wellbeing issues, including making a risk assessment of each client

providing immediate and ongoing support and monitoring as required to address issues

referring clients appropriately as part of treatment

working with each client to identify and implement self-care strategies for social and emotional wellbeing

providing information to each client about social and emotional wellbeing

maintaining client confidentiality

supported at least two staff members who provide social and emotional wellbeing to clients by:

communicating in a culturally appropriate and safe manner to conduct debriefing and supervision of staff

assisting staff with decision-making and problems with client’s treatment and progress

encouraging staff to access services for their own social and emotional wellbeing

interacting appropriately with staff within professional boundaries and according to organisation procedures and policies

---

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:

effective techniques for providing social and emotional support, including self-help and stress management strategies

effective communication skills to:

build rapport

question and probe to identify underlying social/emotional health issues

clarify issues

provide feedback

listen empathetically

provide support

special needs of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and their clients, such as:

issues relating to dispossession, stolen generations and cultural loss

social issues relating to overcrowded housing, community pressures on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers

available and effective referral services for counselling and associated social/emotional support

organisation policy and procedures to provide social/emotional support to staff (in-house and through referral)

key aspects of human psychology and mental health care

culture and spirituality issues

legislative and confidentiality requirements.

---