Application
This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to provide and monitor support, counselling and interventions for clients affected by problem gambling. Counsellors provide support and review goals and strategies using a holistic approach to establish and maintain change in the gambling activity, as well as looking at the reasons underlying and/or contributing to the problem.
This unit applies to counsellors 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. Provide practical support or information | 1.1 Provide relevant and current information on problem gambling and discuss with clients 1.2 Based on review of the client’s assessment and case plan, develop practical strategies to address immediate gambling concerns 1.3 Provide immediate information, response or referral for crises arising from client’s problem gambling and other issues 1.4 Provide information and support with daily living needs in accordance with organisation policies and procedures |
2. Counsel clients | 2.1 Use counselling skills to explore the scope, depth and nature of client’s issues and identify the complexity and interrelated of issues in client’s life 2.2 Explore the function, purpose and context of gambling in the life of the client and its impact 2.3 Exploring factors which trigger the gambling behaviour or encourage its continuation 2.4 Negotiate goals and action plans with client and document in accordance with organisation policies and procedures |
3. Apply interventions to support choice and change | 3.1 Review and select possible models and techniques to meet client needs 3.2 Work with client to develop realistic expectations of counselling and change processes or choice 3.3 Explore and implement options for change or choice that minimise the harm resulting from gambling 3.4 Maintain engagement while resistance and defences are managed 3.5 Apply relapse prevention and management principles and strategies 3.6 Refer client to other services according to individual needs |
4. Work with families and significant others | 4.1 Identify and provide support family members or significant others as a client 4.2 Explore boundary issues and challenges with client 4.3 Proactively consider and address impact on children within work role boundaries 4.4 Work collaboratively with others to support client needs according to organisation policies and procedures |
5. Review client and counselling progress | 5.1 Review client’s progress against case plan and record and report according to organisation guidelines 5.2 Seek client feedback on process and use learning to inform further action and own practice 5.3 Negotiate revisions to action plans and timeframes as required and incorporate into case plan 5.4 Review counselling process and outcomes of client work with supervisor and/or colleagues according to organisation policies and procedures 5.5 Negotiate exit with client and provide support in accordance with organisation policies, procedures and available resources |
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:
implemented support strategies, counselling and interventions for at least 3 diverse clients who gamble to harmful levels in collaboration with the client and his/her support network
used at least 3 of the following approaches in working with those with problem gambling issues:
cognitive processes
affect management
working with underlying issues
use of alternative coping strategies
skills and ‘strengths’ building
family therapy
motivational interviewing
behavioural interventions.
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
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
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
counselling approaches used in problem gambling, and how to use them, including:
cognitive processes
affect management
underlying issues
use of alternative coping strategies
skills and ‘strengths’ building
family therapy
motivational interviewing
behavioural interventions
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and pathological gambling
theories of gambling
interventions and harm minimisation strategies directed to current problem gambling behaviour, including self-exclusion options
individual’s experience of gambling, including family history, culture, character issues, personality, intra-psychic and wider systems, meaning, purpose, function being served, exploring multiplicity of organising impulses
ways to work with client support networks, both family and non-family
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 and assessment outcomes
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.