Application
The unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge for managing dogs for security purposes and for detecting unauthorised and illegal materials. The unit may be customised, particularly regarding the methods of matching and applying the skills of dogs with the different security requirements of the organisation, function of the work team and location of the security situation.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1Prepare for deployment of dogs | 1.1 Assess the operational environment where the dog will be deployed, preparing for possible contingencies. 1.2 Consult information on security situation and assignment details and prepare dog for deployment. 1.3 Transport the dog to the allocated location according to the requirements of the assignment, animal welfare requirements, and organisational policies and procedures. |
2Manage dogs at the scene of operation | 2.1 Locate and deploy the dog according to its capabilities, the specifications of the assignment, legal requirements and work unit procedures and standards. 2.2 Deploy the dog in a manner that results in minimal risk of injury to other persons, the dog, handler and property. 2.3 Read and interpret the body language of the dog and take appropriate action. 2.4 Attend to injuries to the dog according to the degree of risk, level of urgency and animal welfare requirements. 2.5 Secure detected prohibited and illegal items according to the chain of evidence and organisational procedures. |
3Participate in post-operational activities | 3.1 Take part in debriefing sessions to evaluate operation's activities and ways to improve responses and plans for responding to situations. 3.2 Evaluate the ways in which the dog worked and plan for future training sessions and methods of deployment in similar situations. 3.3 Complete accurate and comprehensive records and reports in a timely manner and in the form required by the organisation or work unit. 3.4 Meet administrative requirements for reports according to organisational requirements for information management. |
Required Skills
Required skills: working independently and in teams to manage dogs in security situations applying all facets of dog-handling training, theory and deployment solving problems to deal with workplace safety risks applying basic first aid techniques evaluating operation's activities communicating ideas and information planning and organising activities to prepare for the deployment of dogs in security situations responding appropriately to unauthorised and illegal materials in ways that preserve evidence transporting dogs safely collecting, analysing and organising information to produce records and reports |
Required knowledge: basic first aid techniques that can be applied to dogs chain of evidence and security of evidence dog-training methodologies and practices organisational policies and procedures regarding the roles and purpose of dogs within the organisation legislative, organisation and unit's policies and procedures regarding unauthorised and illegal materials methods for requesting the deployment of dogs in security situations work rosters and schedules of the work unit methods of transporting dogs safely and without stress capabilities of dogs working within the organisation records and reports required by legislative authorities, the organisation, work unit and animal welfare authorities work environment in which dogs could be deployed and emergencies that could arise within those environments environmental or sustainability legislation, regulations and codes of practice applicable to industry |
Evidence Required
Overview of assessment | Evidence for assessment must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments. |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms: the knowledge requirements of this unit the skill requirements of this unit application of employability skills as they relate to this unit. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | This unit contains knowledge that may be assessed off the job, for example in a structured learning process, and performance outcomes which should be assessed ideally in the workplace in routine activities and in conjunction with other units with dog-handling skills set. |
Valid assessment of this unit requires: a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered when managing dogs in security situations, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and changes to routine legislation, policy, procedures and guidelines relating to: deployment of dogs in security situations safety and welfare of people present in security situations where dogs are involved safety, health and welfare of dogs working in security situations security of unauthorised and illegal materials to preserve evidence access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required. | |
Method of assessment | The following assessment methods are suggested: observation of performance in routine workplace activities within a range of agreed responsibilities and in various work locations written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding completion of workplace documents and reports produced as part of routine work activities third-party reports from experienced practitioners completion of performance feedback from supervisors and colleagues. |
Guidance information for assessment | Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, and any identified special needs of the candidate, including language and literacy implications and cultural factors that may affect responses to the questions. In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. |
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. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below. 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. | |
Operational environment includes: | geographical location transport mode hours of operation the human element: officers, suspects and persons who work, reside in or visit the environment the situation or intelligence |
Security situation can include: | detecting unauthorised and illegal materials, such asĀ drugs, alcohol, weapons, explosives and fire accelerants protecting property or people tracking, searching and finding people preventing escapes preventing crime patrolling areas border protection providing a presence e.g. at riots and hostage situations or for crowd control |
Organisational policies and procedures can include: | particularly those relating to: deployment of dogs in security situations search methodology security of evidence enabling legislation workplace health and safety Acts, regulations and guidelines national and regional policies and procedures procedural guides, standard operating procedures and work instructions |
Capabilities of the dogs can be affected by the following factors: | temperament of the dog experience and training of the dog type of situation location of the situation environmental factors, including: temperature humidity air currents and wind drift motivation to work |
Prohibited and illegal items that need to be seized and held according to the chain of evidence can vary according to the jurisdiction, its policies and purpose and may include: | opiates cocaine marijuana amphetamines steroids other drugs on illegal or banned lists food vegetable matter animals and birds animal products money firearms and associated equipment, such as ammunition knives and similar weapons explosives and associated equipment general weapons, including knuckledusters, bows and arrows dangerous goods |
Records and reports include: | methods of transporting dogs safely and humanely methods of training dogs, including: conditioning process regular evaluation and assessment records of training activity dog health and development communications with internal and external networks incident report, including: date and time of incident date and time of report persons involved occurrence body of report outcomes requirements for reports, including that they are: complete concise clear correct honest |
Administrative requirements may include: | report number cross-referencing to other reports file number number of copies and where each is lodged |
Sectors
Dog handling
Competency Field
Not applicable.
Co-Requisites
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Not applicable.