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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Provide information to community about substance misuse
  2. Assess whether individuals are misusing substances
  3. Plan and implement follow up action

Required Skills

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

Essential knowledge

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

Understanding of blood borne virus 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 Australias national policy including

harm reduction

supply reduction

demand reduction

A broad knowledge base relating to individual and community health including

biology and development

psychology

disease and treatment options

culture and traditions

Essential skills

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to

Communicating effectively with the community and individual clients about substance misuse

Undertaking basic client assessments in relation to substance misuse

Participating as part of a team in following up instances of identified substance misuse

In addition the candidate must be able 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 the ability to

Communicate effectively and establish a relationship of trust with clients their family and the community including

building relationships through respect empathy and genuineness

sensitive questioning and support of clients

provision of information

negotiation

conflict resolution

providing feedback

Apply a broad skills base relating to appropriate intervention within the context of the local community including

assessment

provision of advice and support

referral

treatment and other interventions

communication

Reflect on and improve own level and application of skills and knowledge to achieve desirable outcomes and maintain own capabilities

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

Critical aspects of assessment

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

Where for reasons of safety space or access to equipment and resources assessment takes place away from the workplace the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Conditions of assessment

This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal andor Torres Strait Islander culture

Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander himherself

or

accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care

Context of assessment

Competence should be demonstrated working individually under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal andor Torres Strait Islander clients

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible

Related units

This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application


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. 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.

Cultural respect may include:

This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance

Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices

Community control may include:

Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process

Supervision may include:

Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements

References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals

A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines

Legislative requirements may include:

Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute "usual practice" due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by "usual practice circumstances"

Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework

Substance misuse may include:

Tobacco

Alcohol

Cannabis

Heroin

Amphetamines

Party drugs (ecstasy, GHB)

Cocaine

Hallucinogens

Pharmaceuticals (non-prescription use)

Performance enhancing drugs (steroids etc)

Inhalants (petrol and solvents)

Kava

Information may be:

Verbal or written in accordance with workplace requirements

Care may include:

Provision of information, education, advice and/or social/emotional support

Referral for treatment and/or counselling

Traditional healing

Ceremonies

Client history may include:

Spiritual

Economic

Physical

Environmental

Mental and environmental

Social

Other services may include:

Drug misuse treatment and maintenance programs

Alcohol misuse treatment programs

Hospital care

Education programs

Government and non-government organisations

Educators in substance misuse

Care that community members provide to the client

Traditional ceremonies

Clients may include:

Individuals

Families

Communities

Assessment may be:

Oral or written, in accordance with workplace requirements