Elements and Performance Criteria
- Identify social/emotional needs of clients
- Provide information about available social/emotional support services
- Provide accurate information about counselling and referral targeted to identified individual and community needs
- Adapt delivery of information as required to facilitate understanding and address identified needs
- Obtain further information as required to address identified needs
- Support clients in taking a self-care approach to health in line with individual needs and organisation and community requirements
- Support clients under stress
- Assist client to feel as comfortable as possible
- Invite client to discuss worries and feelings
- Use basic listening and observation skills appropriately
- Suggest stress reducing activities, as appropriate
- Provide immediate support to clients in crisis, in consultation with the health team and supervisor and in line with organisation procedures
- Offer immediate help to bereaved family members after sudden death
- Refer clients for social/ emotional support
- Refer individuals and/or groups to providers of social and emotional support services in line with identified individual and community needs
- Consult other health professionals to clarify required care and support services
- Address legislative and confidentiality requirements in the referral process
- Keep records according to organisation guidelines
- Follow up clients after counselling
- Apply self-care strategies