CHCCAR501B
Conduct career guidance interview

This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to work with clients to assist them to identify their career interests and options and to assist them to make decisions to match informed career decisions

Application

This unit applies to assisting clients in career guidance

Service delivery may take place in a range of settings


Prerequisites

Not Applicable


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Initiate exploratory activities with the client

1.1 Put in place client interview arrangements to facilitate interactive sessions and to establish rapport with the client

1.2 Greet client and establish areas of interest

1.3 Clarify the role of the career guidance worker and client expectations of the client of the organisation

1.4 Explain rights and responsibilities of client

1.5 Clarify client's expectations and needs to ensure their issues and motivations are suited to career guidance situation

1.6 Collect and document client information in accordance with organisation procedures

1.7 Apply appropriate questioning techniques and reflective listening to identify needs and interests of the client

1.8 Use a range of appropriate career exploratory activities to assist clients to focus their career search activities

1.9 Apply current knowledge of labour market and career information to conduct client interview

1.10 Implement processes to maintain client confidentiality in accordance with organisation policies and procedures

2. Facilitate client identification of career interests and needs

2.1 Provide appropriate career exploration activities and career self-assessment instrument/s for self administration by the client, according to the scope of work role and organisation requirements

2.2 Modify self-assessment instrument/s if required, to match client needs and cultural variations

2.3 Provide appropriate guidance, support and monitoring to ensure self administration of career assessment instruments can proceed

2.4 Conduct follow up interviews with the client to confirm outcomes of self-assessment and assist clients to explore options that match to their self assessment outcomes

2.5 Assist client to identify areas where they want to take action

3. Assist client to develop a strategy to address their needs and interests

3.1 Assist client to prioritise areas for further investigation

3.2 Provide client with information about how their self assessment relates to job profiles, educational and training pathway requirements and employment opportunities

3.3 Assist client to identify workable strategies to address their priority interest areas

3.4 Assist client to develop their own action plans to address their preferences and needs

3.5 Identify areas where clients may require referral to specialists agencies or other professionals

3.6 Identify the range of support services able to be provided to the client by the organisation and other organisations

3.7 Develop and implement an ongoing plan with the client defining any additional support required

3.8 Implement processes to evaluate the effectiveness of services and support provided to the client

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

These include knowledge of:

Accepted methods for defining jobs

Theoretical foundations and framework that underpin career guidance activities

Factors influencing individual decision-making

Current labour market trends

Occupational groups, clusters and networks

Pathways to occupational areas

Law and policy that impacts on employment

Good working knowledge of local employment options and support networks available

Role and responsibilities of self and other staff in the organisation

Clients rights and responsibilities in the organisation

Knowledge specific to working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Knowledge of education and training options and pathways

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Apply a knowledge of career guidance theory and practice

Apply a current knowledge of the world of work

Collect relevant financial information to determine client's needs and interests

Provide accurate and relevant information particularly in respect to career matters

Assess the need of the client to be referred to other services

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

These include the ability to:

Conduct research to maintain currency of information, including effective use of relevant information technology in line with occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines

Apply high level computer skills

Demonstrate a non-judgemental approach to working with people

Work with cultural sensitivity

Apply verbal and non-verbal communication skills

Demonstrate referral skills

Apply problem solving and analytical skills

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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this unit of competency:

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

This unit is best assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace under the normal of range conditions

Assessment should be gathered on one or more occasions but must reflect the normal range of client situations encountered in the workplace

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in community services should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged

Resources required for assessment include:

access to appropriate workplace where assessment can take place, or simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment

Method of assessment:

Assessment may include observation, questioning and evidence gathered from the workplace environment

Workplace evidence can be testimonials, portfolios or copies of completed workplace records/ documentation

Related units:

This unit of competency is recommended to be assessed in conjunction with related units:

CHCCOM403A Use targeted communication skills to build relationships

CHCES411A Collect, analyse and apply labour market information


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.

Career exploration activities include:

Discussion and simple inventories on interests, values, skills and motivation

Client interview arrangements include:

Arranging seating

Access to computers

Ready access to career information

Establishing timeframes for the session

Establishing roles and responsibilities

Response to requests for information will take into consideration the client's:

Language and literacy level

Cultural factors

Previous contact

Disabilities

Career self assessment instrument/s may be:

Paper based and computer generated

Modify self assessment instrument may include:

Translation

Explaining terminology

Removing culturally biased information

Contextualisation to local conditions

Career information includes:

National job information and data

Local employment information

Information on employment conditions

Information on training requirements

Information on the service and other relevant services may be delivered in the form of:

Informal discussion

Published material, newsletters/circulars, leaflets/brochures

Correspondence/written reports

Audio-visual

Posters/graphic representation

Information may be given about the following types of services:

Government and non government services e.g. education/training, employment, social/recreation, counselling, financial, self help, advocacy, transport

People with relevant special qualities, knowledge and/or expertise

Government allowances, pensions and benefits

Cross cultural services

Appropriate services may include:

Centrelink

Support agencies for mental health, domestic violence, alcohol and other drugs (AOD) issues etc.

Accommodation agencies including emergency housing agencies

Local community support networks

Financial assistance agencies

Emergency relief agencies

Dispute Resolution Services

Recruitment services


Sectors

Not Applicable


Employability Skills

This unit contains Employability Skills


Licensing Information

Not Applicable