This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to manage information during an incident.

This unit of competency applies to team leaders, managers, technical specialists or those in similar roles who are required to identify incident information needs and sources, ensure information systems are in place and being used, and collect, analyse and report on data on incidents.

This unit of competency applies to an individual working alone or as part of a team or group and working in liaison with other shift and emergency response team members, and the incident commander and control room operator, as appropriate.

In a typical scenario, the person must ensure that information is identified, recorded, analysed and acted upon according to the nature and impact of the information. For instance, the numbers of personnel evacuated from an incident scene, their condition, location and contact details would be accurately collected, recorded and then reported to the incident team. In such a situation the families, media or the authorities may need to be accurately informed in the appropriate way and within an acceptable timeframe.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include the ability to:

complete written records

provide written and verbal reports

capture and record incident data

ensure data and information is available and relevant to stakeholder needs

sort, prioritise and analyse data to provide timely updates for stakeholders

maintain chronological event recording for post-incident review

ensure effective incident reporting systems are in place and being used

apply basic mathematical processes.

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

organisational procedures, including those covering:

incident, fire and accident

communication systems

emergency response plans

reporting and information storage

internal and external stakeholders and their typical incident information needs

data collection and collation methods

data analysis and display techniques.

Competency must be achieved before performing this work unsupervised. Therefore this unit will typically be assessed off the job. Where assessment is undertaken on the job, appropriate supervision and safety precautions must be provided.

The unit should be assessed holistically and the judgement of competence based on a holistic assessment of the evidence.

The collection of performance evidence:

should provide evidence of the ability to perform over the range of situations which might be expected to be encountered, including typical disruptions to normal, smooth work conditions

must include an incident response, the use of appropriate tools, equipment and safety gear requiring demonstration of preparation, operation, completion and responding to problems

may use industry-based simulation particularly where safety, lack of opportunity or significant cost is an issue.

Off-the-job assessment must sufficiently reflect realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

Assessment in a simulated environment should use evidence collected from one or more of:

walk-throughs

demonstration of skills

industry based case studies/scenarios

‘what ifs’.

Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence (provided a record is kept) or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept).

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.

Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.

Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.

In addition, the assessor or anyone acting in subject matter expert role in assessment must demonstrate both technical competency and currency. If the assessor cannot demonstrate technical competency and currency they must assess with a subject matter expert who does meet these requirements.

Technical competence can be demonstrated through one or more of:

relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment

appropriate workplace experience undertaking the type of work being assessed under routine and non-routine conditions

appropriate workplace experience supervising/evaluating the type of work being assessed under routine and non-routine conditions

Currency can be demonstrated through one or more of:

being currently employed undertaking the type of work being assessed

being employed by the organisation undertaking the type of work being assessed and having maintained currency in accordance with that organisation’s policies and procedures

having consulted/had contact with an organisation undertaking the type of work being assessed within the last twelve months, the consultation/contact being related to assessment

conducting on-the-job training/assessments of the type of work being assessed

being an active member of a relevant professional body and participating in activities relevant to the assessment of this type of work

This section describes those 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.

Incident readiness and response