This unit may apply to work in a range of community sector contexts, particularly in client assessment and case management, and working with clients who have complex needs requiring a range of care solutions

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Identify and address the needs of carers and families

1.1 Work with carers and families of clients with complex needs to clarify their needs and identify available support options

1.2 Provide information as required to assist and meet identified needs of carers and families

1.3 Recognise the multi-dimensional and dynamic nature of caring relationships and respond appropriately to support individual relationships with each client

1.4 Observe changes in the caring relationship over time and respond appropriately to those changes to address needs of carers and care recipients

1.5 Recognise the key factors in risks to the care relationship continuing and respond appropriately to these

1.6 Ensure that each person's carer/s and family are treated with dignity and respect and with sensitivity to cultural issues and expectations in the caring relationship

1.7 Take steps to ensure all service providers are aware of and respond appropriately to address specific identified needs of carers and families

1.8 Where appropriate, identify needs of children of parents with complex needs and apply strategies to address these needs, including where children adopt the caring role (young carers)

2. Involve carers and families in assessment and care planning processes

2.1 Consult with care recipient to clarify the role and involvement of primary carer/s and other family members in the decision-making and service delivery processes

2.2 Ensure assessments are undertaken in the context of the care relationship and address the needs of both care recipients and carers, and address any areas of conflict

2.3 Ensure carers are well informed about their role and rights in assessment of the care recipient and care planning decision-making and that they are aware of their right to a carer assessment, which may be undertaken separately

2.4 Ensure carer assessment is empowering and builds carer relationships with service providers over time

2.5 Provide carers with clear understanding of available services and choices, so they are informed participants in the care planning process

2.6 Consult with all organisation representatives involved in assessment and care planning in complex situations to ensure carer and family involvement is clear

2.7 Ensure services are provided in a manner that recognises and optimises the caring relationship to maximise each person's potential for achieving their goals and addresses identified needs

2.8 Maximise agreed involvement of carer/s and family in assessment and care planning processes and decision-making

2.9 Ensure mechanisms are in place to support sharing and updating of information with carer/s and family

3. Involve carer/s, family and other informal support persons in monitoring client care plan implementation

3.1 Ensure carer/s have a clear understanding of client-identified goals and the role planned services, support and resources have in achieving those goals

3.2 Ensure carer/s have identified their own goals and the role planned services, support and resources have in achieving those goals

3.3 Listen to observations of client, carer/s and family about aspects of care and services provided in relation to achieving those goals

3.4 Maintain appropriate level of rapport and communication with carer/s to support disclosure of information about delivery of services and resources in line with care plan

3.5 Maintain collaborative relationships with carers and other informal supporters (e.g. neighbours or friends), to ensure they can continue to provide the desired support to people with complex needs

3.6 Involve carer/s in identifying problems with implementing care plans and potential adjustments to best meet each person's needs

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:

Characteristics and needs of identified client population

Components and relationships of service delivery system

Documentation requirements and practices

Government legislation, regulations, policies and standards

Models and practices in assessment and goal-directed care planning

Organisation policies and practices

Professional standards/code of ethics and relevant legislative requirements

Relevance of the work role and functions to maintaining sustainability of the workplace, including environmental, economic, workforce and social sustainability

Service and practitioner role boundaries

Significance of service delivery setting, such as working in the client's home

The nature of the family care relationship and family dynamics

The range of services, resources and holistic solutions available to clients with complex needs

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Demonstrate appropriate inclusion of carers and families in assessment, planning, implementation and review processes related to provision of services and resources to support the care relationship in complex situations

Examine issues related to sustainability of care to address needs of care recipient and carer/s

Identify and manage competing needs and conflict, when necessary to improve care outcomes for client

Maintain client confidentiality when engaging stakeholders

Navigate the service delivery system to meet needs of care recipient and carer/s and to encourage independence where possible

Practise in an ethical and professional manner

Support the care relationship to minimise client dependency by developing their self-management skills

Use complex data drawn from a range of needs assessment information as a basis for planning care services to address complex needs of care recipients and their carer/s

Work within guidelines for currently identified best practices

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:

Demonstrate application of skills in:

advocacy

consultation

engagement

facilitation

identification of stakeholders

liaison with other organisations and service providers

negotiating / problem solving

observation

report and case note writing

situation analysis

Recognise, act upon and promote opportunities to enhance sustainability in the work context, including environmental, economic, workforce and social sustainability

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 of competence will be most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions

Assessment may be conducted over one or more occasions and should include both the development and promotion of best practice

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 and linguistically diverse (CALD) environments

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:

an appropriate workplace where assessment can take place

simulation of realistic workplace setting, using case study examples, role plays etc

Method of assessment:

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

Feedback from peers/other participants may inform assessment

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.

Care planningmay include:

Planning range and type of specific services to be provided

Planning details of each specific service to be provided, such as

domestic assistance

respite

nursing care

Consideration of work health and safety (WHS) and risk management issues and strategies to address these

Referral strategies, as required, to address breadth of client needs

Information about services, resources or activities the client may follow up independently, such as:

health promotion

local social or active living opportunities

self-management strategies and activities

self-referral to other services

Communication strategies for ensuring clarity of responsibilities and effective coordination of service delivery

Complex needs may refer to:

Client needs requiring multiple service types with heightened needs for collaboration between service providers

Client with unstable or deteriorating health where service needs for both client and carers are changing frequently

Clients who have family and carer needs that require additional service inputs

Clients with a range of needs that may not be met by available services and resources

Clients with diminished capacity to make own decisions

Situations where there is suspected abuse or competing, conflicting needs between clients and carers

Risks to the care relationship may include:

Conflict in relationships with family or service providers

High intensity care

High levels of carer stress

Loss of formal or informal supports

Multiple competing role demands

Worsening carer health

Worsening health or behaviour of the person with care needs

This unit contains Employability Skills