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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. Use information gathering techniques
  2. Evaluate information
  3. Act on information

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to

relate to persons from diverse backgrounds

obtain information from informants

corroborate information

share information and intelligence with other areas or agencies

cultivate informants

literacy skills to

read complex legislation

determine elements of offences and coronial needs

maintain profiles

problem solving skills to

evaluate the validity and integrity of information

determine whether information is responded to through immediate action or further inquiry or filing

planning and organising skills to

source classify and validate information

selfmanagement skills to

respond to information

disseminate information in required timeframes

technical skills to

use information storage and retrieval systems

Required knowledge

corporate goals and objectives in relation to investigation information management

legislation and organisational guidelines relating to information collection and management

storage and retrieval requirements including Freedom of Information and Privacy considerations

organisational guidelines for dealing with informants

information generating processes including surveillance and intelligence processes

information sources

security classification criteria and dissemination protocols

evaluation processes for establishing validity reliability and integrity of information

professional codes of conductethics relating to investigation processes

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

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 consistency of performance in managing investigation information processes

This will include evidence of

gathering evaluating and acting on information that is accurate and relevant to actual or simulated investigations on at least three separate occasions or for at least three different investigation situations

adhering to legal ethical and organisational requirements during the conduct of investigations

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to a real or simulated workplace environment that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered while gathering and managing investigation information including coping with difficulties irregularities and breakdowns in routine

Access is required to resources such as

applicable legislation policies and procedures

case studies and workplace scenarios to capture the range of information requirements for investigation situations likely to be encountered

information management technology andor manual systems

Method of assessment

Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this unit of competency may include but are not limited to a combination of or more of

case studies

demonstration

observation

written or oral questions

scenarios

simulation or role plays

authenticated evidence from the workplace andor training courses

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands such as literacy and the needs of particular groups such as

people with disabilities

people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

women

young people

older people

people in rural and remote locations


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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. 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) may also be included.

Potential sources of information may include:

internal:

documents

databases

intelligence

inspections

surveillance

specialist sections such as auditors

technical services

external

local, state and federal government agencies and authorities

police

covert/surveillance policing

forensic services

private agencies

members of the public

literature

witnesses

victims

suspects

informants/ informers

Informants may be cultivated and managed by:

researching background reliability

communicating with persons at all levels

being self-motivated

recording information accurately

displaying knowledge of specialist crime culture and terminology

identifying motives of informants (that may include money, revenge, consideration of penalty, civic duty)

maintaining regular contact

registering informants correctly

maintaining personal integrity

anonymity and own counsel

Information systems may be:

computer-based or manual

selected depending on:

importance of information

sensitivity of information

reliability of information

where information is to be disseminated

Evidence may include:

direct

circumstantial

hearsay

physical

documentary

observations

opinions