Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish relationships, clarify needs, and then work collaboratively with people who are living with mental health issues.
This unit applies to support workers in contexts outside the mental health sector, but who come into contact with people with mental health issues. The services and support provided are not mental health specific.
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. Establish respectful relationships with people with mental health issues | 1.1 Communicate in a way that develops and maintains respect, hope, trust and self-direction 1.2 Work in a way that reflects and prioritises the person’s right to self define and direct their own recovery 1.3 Recognise and respect the person’s social, cultural and spiritual differences 1.4 Support the person to understand and exercise their rights 1.5 Maintain confidentiality and privacy of the person within organisation policy and protocols |
2. Determine the needs of people with mental health issues | 2.1 Gather and interpret information about the person’s needs from the person and other agreed sources 2.2 Identify and discuss with the person services and strategies that support empowerment and recovery 2.3 Support the person to express their own identity and preferences and avoid imposing own values and attitudes 2.4 Identify duty of care and dignity of risk considerations in collaboration with the person |
3. Work with people with mental health issues to meet aspirations and needs | 3.1 Provide support that facilitates progress towards the person’s goals in collaboration with the person and their care network 3.2 Work in ways that uphold the person’s rights 3.3 Adapt service delivery within organisation policies and procedures to meet the person’s specific needs and requirements 3.4 Document interactions and services according to organisation policy and procedures 3.5 Respond promptly and supportively to people experiencing distress or crisis 3.6 Work within the limits of own knowledge, abilities and work role and make referrals to other services as indicated by the person’s needs |
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (employability skills, language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance. |
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. |