Application
This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to assess the needs of clients affected by problem gambling and develop case plans for the delivery of problem gambling counselling services.
This unit applies to individuals working with people affected by problem gambling.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand Standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for assessment | 1.1 Review existing information about the client and consult with relevant health or community services professionals based on client needs 1.2 Clearly explain legal, ethical and organisational requirements and procedures 1.3 Discuss with the client reasons for seeking help and other information that may assist in establishing a basis for further work 1.4 Inform the client of the assessment purpose and process 1.5 Confirm client’s understanding of the purpose and process of assessment and obtain consent |
2. Conduct assessment | 2.1 Identify history and pattern of client’s gambling through client discussion and questioning 2.2 Identify and clarify co-existing issues in consultation with the client 2.3 Review information and/or use structured assessment screens to assess the extent and impact of gambling 2.4 Collaborate with other health professionals as indicated by assessment 2.5 Determine entry to, or exclusion from, services according to organisation criteria 2.6 Accurately record assessment results according to organisation guidelines |
3. Develop a case plan with the client | 3.1 Identify and explore and develop options for addressing client needs and integrate into planning 3.2 Identify and prioritise goals with client and negotiate and agree objectives and processes 3.3 Negotiate and agree on case plans 3.4 Define roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of clients, counsellors and other service providers 3.5 Integrate cultural considerations into goal setting and negotiation 3.6 Negotiate communication protocols, ongoing review and evaluation systems 3.7 Document case plans and ongoing case notes according to organisation guidelines |
4. Refer clients | 4.1 Identify client issues that are outside the scope of the service and/or the scope of the worker 4.2 Identify appropriate service and other support options 4.3 Inform the client of possible options and reasons for seeking other service and support options 4.4 Confirm the client’s understanding of options 4.5 Work with the client to determine referral options and responsibilities 4.6 Make referral with client consent 4.7 Provide assessment information to others, including relevant health and/or community services professionals according to consent requirements |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
worked collaboratively with at least 3 clients who gamble to harmful levels, including:
assessing and documenting client issues
developing individualised case plans that identify strategies to assist them in to overcome problems associated with gambling
used the following communication skills in work with clients:
effective use of body language
paraphrasing
reflecting feelings
open and closed questioning or probing
summarising
reframing
exploring options
use of normalising statements.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
legal and ethical considerations (national, state/territory and local) for problem gambling, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:
codes of conduct
discrimination
duty of care
human rights
privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
records management
rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients
specific legislation that affects gambling, including:
state/territory Responsible Conduct of Gaming
work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations
work health and safety
types of gambling services in Australia and the different ways they are made available
key gambling industry stakeholders and their interrelationships
context for work in problem gambling, including:
sector values and philosophies
historical – changing attitudes and approaches
cultural – factors that motivate people to gamble
political – current policy context
economic – links between economic conditions and levels of gambling, socioeconomic patterns, state revenue generation
definitions and key indicators of problem gambling
stages of problem gambling
features of responsible gambling
graduated risks of some forms of gambling
potential impacts of problem gambling
different models of work in problem gambling, when and how they are used, including:
individual counselling and therapy
internet and telephone counselling
working with families and relationship counselling
community awareness, development and education
assessment and referral services
outpatient services
peer support/self help
crisis situation responses
relapse prevention
harm minimisation
group work
financial counselling
case management
residential and inpatient services
existence and meaning of myths, chance, odds, randomness, gambling cycle
problem gambling assessment processes, including:
range of issues to be covered
types of assessment screens and tools
factors influencing the current status of the client including:
current or baseline levels of gambling behaviour
readiness to change
physical, emotional, financial, legal and psychosocial state and immediate needs in these areas
gambling and other issues in the family
factors for consideration when working with different types of clients:
client of different ages
different gender communication styles
mandated and voluntary clients
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
culturally and linguistically diverse people
considerations when working with clients at risk of self-harm, suicide or with mental health issues
coexisting issues potentially impacting on the client, how to respond and sources for referral:
housing
employment
financial
legal
relationship
case management principles and processes
referral agencies for people with problem gambling
communication techniques, including:
effective use of body language
paraphrasing
reflecting feelings
open and closed questioning or probing
summarising
reframing
exploring options
use of normalising statements
referral options and availability.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
client information
problem gambling assessment tools
modelling of industry operating conditions, including:
scenarios that involve complex interactions with other people.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.