Application
This unit describes the skills required to observe offender behaviour and presentation, assess risks and determine intervention approach.
Offender risks encompass many different aspects of offender health and safety, including:
suicide and self-harm
risk from others
risk to others
sexual abuse
drug and substance abuse
anger management
domestic violence
nature of the offence
potential for repeat offence and re-offending
This unit may apply to custodial and community corrections staff responsible for the management and review of offenders. The role includes identifying immediate and longer-term risks and needs to ensure allocation and referral of offenders to suitable and effective intervention and support services.
The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to, particularly those related to interaction with offenders.
A person undertaking this role would normally work autonomously with support from a range of established sources. The role is complex, drawing upon the candidate's extracting, extrapolating and inferencing processes.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section. |
1. Observe offender behaviour and presentation | 1.1 Note the offender’s emotional state within the context of known personal history and circumstances. 1.2 Observe and note the offender’s physical presentation. 1.3 Note discrepancies and inconsistencies in offender behaviour. 1.4 Research and check information about the offender’s history, behaviour and emotional state from analysis of his/her information and behaviour and from offender files and reports. 1.5 Make a general assessment of functioning according to recognised criteria and note indicators of impairment. 1.6 Use a range of communication strategies to discover offender’s experiences, attitudes and needs. |
2. Analyse nature and degree of risk | 2.1 Check and confirm offenders' understanding of the nature of their circumstances using a range of communication and analysis strategies. 2.2 Explore offenders' perceptions of their capacity to influence the situation and evaluate this for realistic and effective expectations. 2.3 Assess offenders' abilities and skills to handle or function within their situation and evaluate this for degree of risk to health and welfare. 2.4 Assist offenders to identify current factors that would work for or against change and assess them for significance to programs and services. 2.5 Explore and determine offenders' perceptions of the roles of influential and relevant people and systems. 2.6 Identify and acknowledge offenders' capacity to recognise and understand their situation and adapt according to new requirements and perceptions of the correctional environment. 2.7 Identify offenders' motivation to change and assess this according to level of reality, expectations and experiences. |
3. Determine intervention | 3.1 Identify intervention strategies based on offenders' ability and potential to cope with their situation. 3.2 Make recommendations on intervention strategies and referral based on offenders' risk factors and the nature of the offending behaviour. 3.3 Negotiate conditions of intervention with key people, agencies and offenders in a manner that encourages agreement and co 3.4 Provide advice and information to offenders using appropriate manners of communication. 3.5 Record all relevant information and case notes about offenders in offenders' files and report to other agencies. |
Foundation Skills
The foundation skills demands of this unit have been mapped for alignment with the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). The following tables outline the performance levels indicated for successful attainment of the unit.
ACSF levels indicative of performance:
Further information on ACSF and the foundation skills underpinning this unit can be found in the
Competency Field
Intervention