Application
This unit describes the skills required to respond to and contain incidents that jeopardise safety and security.
This unit applies to those working in detention centres, correctional centres or prisons, community corrections offices, justice administration offices and on work sites where detainees, prisoners or offenders are under statutory supervision. With contextualisation this unit may apply to those working in other work environments.
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 security.
Those undertaking this unit work independently with support to perform routine tasks in a moderate range of familiar and less familiar contexts. The role requires teamwork, communication and simple inferencing skills.
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. Respond to incidents | 1.1 Identify the possible causes of incidents and assess them for relevance to the security and safety of people and the environment. 1.2 Respond to incidents confidently and appropriately, according to agreed procedures. 1.3 Request assistance clearly and promptly. 1.4 Use security equipment and technology according to instructions and procedures. |
2. Contain incidents | 2.1 Monitor situation for potential causes of conflict and harmful behaviour. 2.2 Use communication and negotiation strategies that prevent escalation of incidents. 2.3 Provide clear, accurate and comprehensive information to assist decision making. 2.4 Select response and action designed to minimise risk and preserve the safety and security of all involved. 2.5 Apply necessary level of force that complies with organisational policy to establish control and maintain security. 2.6 Provide accurate and clear reports promptly. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least two occasions.
assessing risks to safety and security and applying appropriate procedure
using effective communication techniques to deal with aggressive and uncooperative people
applying strategies to prevent escalation of incidents
using security, restraint and first aid equipment
using surveillance and observation techniques
recording observations and completing written and oral reports on incidents
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.
organisation’s policies and procedures related to responding to incidents
effective communication
negotiation strategies
first aid techniques
principles of cooperative teamwork
duty of care
Assessment Conditions
This unit contains knowledge which 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 specific functional focus.
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 containing incidents, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine.
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
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
Safety and security