Manage information function at an incident Evidence Guide

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Evidence Guide: PUAOPE021A - Manage information function at an incident

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

PUAOPE021A - Manage information function at an incident

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Establish the Information Unit

Initial briefing and information required to establish the Information Unit (Unit) is sought and obtained from the supervisor
Unit priorities are confirmed with the supervisor and are in accordance with the Incident Action Plan (IAP)
Unit is established and resourced to meet incident requirements and establishment is communicated to the Incident Management Team (IMT)
Structure of the Information Unit is determined by incident complexity and consequential communication requirements
Media Officer is appointed within the Unit, if required, to prepare media releases for authorisation by the Incident Controller, to provide information to the media and to ensure media needs and deadlines are met
Briefings to members of the Unit are conducted upon commencement of shift and at regular intervals
Safe work practices, health and welfare arrangements for work area are implemented and monitored

Initial briefing and information required to establish the Information Unit (Unit) is sought and obtained from the supervisor

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Unit priorities are confirmed with the supervisor and are in accordance with the Incident Action Plan (IAP)

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Unit is established and resourced to meet incident requirements and establishment is communicated to the Incident Management Team (IMT)

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Structure of the Information Unit is determined by incident complexity and consequential communication requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Media Officer is appointed within the Unit, if required, to prepare media releases for authorisation by the Incident Controller, to provide information to the media and to ensure media needs and deadlines are met

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Briefings to members of the Unit are conducted upon commencement of shift and at regular intervals

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Safe work practices, health and welfare arrangements for work area are implemented and monitored

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Collect information on the current and predicted incident situation

Accurate information on the current and projected incident situation as well as incident control objectives, strategies and resources working at the incident is collected, summarised and prepared for dissemination
Local knowledge and information regarding risks, issues and local factors provided by stakeholder groups and the community is communicated to the IMT

Accurate information on the current and projected incident situation as well as incident control objectives, strategies and resources working at the incident is collected, summarised and prepared for dissemination

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Local knowledge and information regarding risks, issues and local factors provided by stakeholder groups and the community is communicated to the IMT

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Develop an Information Unit Communications Plan

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Information Unit Communications Plan (IUC Plan) is prepared and specifies the objectives and strategies to meet the information needs of the community, media, incident personnel and involved and affected organisations
Analysis of the incident, risks and constraints and the information to be reported to identified target audiences is incorporated in the IUC Plan
Tactics and timelines required to implement the strategies are identified in the IUC Plan
IAP is supported by the IUC Plan by confirming the process and means by which information is to be disseminated both within the incident and to parties external of the incident
How information is to be communicated internally and externally, to the community, media and other relevant stakeholders is confirmed in the IUC Plan

Information Unit Communications Plan (IUC Plan) is prepared and specifies the objectives and strategies to meet the information needs of the community, media, incident personnel and involved and affected organisations

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Analysis of the incident, risks and constraints and the information to be reported to identified target audiences is incorporated in the IUC Plan

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Tactics and timelines required to implement the strategies are identified in the IUC Plan

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

IAP is supported by the IUC Plan by confirming the process and means by which information is to be disseminated both within the incident and to parties external of the incident

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

How information is to be communicated internally and externally, to the community, media and other relevant stakeholders is confirmed in the IUC Plan

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Disseminate information to the community

Timely, accurate and relevant information, approved by the Incident Controller, is disseminated to stakeholders in conjunction with the IMT
Planning Officer is advised of any emerging issues

Timely, accurate and relevant information, approved by the Incident Controller, is disseminated to stakeholders in conjunction with the IMT

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Planning Officer is advised of any emerging issues

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Engage with the community

Community information strategy is developed by the Unit in accordance with the IAP requirements
Communicationwith communities both affected and likely to be affected by the incident are organised and conducted
Communities are provided with information to prepare themselves and to manage risks
Community meetings to respond to community information needs are coordinated
Information and feedback from the community on the effectiveness of its communications strategies and community concerns is sought

Community information strategy is developed by the Unit in accordance with the IAP requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Communicationwith communities both affected and likely to be affected by the incident are organised and conducted

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Communities are provided with information to prepare themselves and to manage risks

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Community meetings to respond to community information needs are coordinated

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Information and feedback from the community on the effectiveness of its communications strategies and community concerns is sought

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Manage the Information Unit

Members of the Unit are briefed on their responsibilities in meeting the outcomes of the IUC Plan
Unit is publicised as the point of contact for the media, the public and other organisations for general information about the incident
Accurate and regular flow of information within the incident and to parties external to the incident, is maintained and effective incident management is supported
Work by members of the Unit is undertaken in close liaison with the Management Support Unit and Liaison Officers
Structure of the Unit is adjusted during the incident to meet the predicted and actual information demands of the incident
Unit is managed in accordance with control agency workplace policies
Appropriate document management and record keeping systems are established

Members of the Unit are briefed on their responsibilities in meeting the outcomes of the IUC Plan

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Unit is publicised as the point of contact for the media, the public and other organisations for general information about the incident

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Accurate and regular flow of information within the incident and to parties external to the incident, is maintained and effective incident management is supported

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Work by members of the Unit is undertaken in close liaison with the Management Support Unit and Liaison Officers

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Structure of the Unit is adjusted during the incident to meet the predicted and actual information demands of the incident

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Unit is managed in accordance with control agency workplace policies

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Appropriate document management and record keeping systems are established

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Contribute to the planning processes

Communication is maintained with the IMT formally, through meetings, briefings and debriefings, and informally, as required
IMT is briefed on social or political issues and is provided with feedback on community needs and concerns as required
Input is provided to the development of the IAP in relation to information collection and dissemination

Communication is maintained with the IMT formally, through meetings, briefings and debriefings, and informally, as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

IMT is briefed on social or political issues and is provided with feedback on community needs and concerns as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Input is provided to the development of the IAP in relation to information collection and dissemination

Completed
Date:

Teacher:

Evidence:

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________ Date: _

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Assessment must confirm the ability to: collate and prepare timely, accurate, relevant and consistent information to be disseminated to a range of stakeholders to meet their individual information requirements develop an IUC Plan to meet the needs of the community, media, stakeholders and the incident control structure organise and conduct community meetings to assist local groups to prepare themselves and to manage their risks Consistency in performance Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Context of assessment Competency should be assessed in an operational environment or in an industry-approved multi-agency simulated workplace environment. Specific resources for assessment Access is required to: incidents or simulation of incidents, in a multi-agency workplace environment
Method of assessment	In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook. Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment. Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include: direct observation interviewing the candidate journals and workplace documentation third party reports from supervisors written or oral questions

Required Skills and Knowledge

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

anticipate, analyse and assess information needs

collect and collate information

communicate facts in a fluent, clear and unambiguous manner

conduct press conferences and group interviews

delegate appropriately

communicate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders

experience in public liaison and media relations

make presentations to the media

provide briefings to the IMT

supervise staff effectively

undertake public speaking engagements

Required Knowledge

agency workplace policies, practices and procedures

analysis and display techniques

Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS) structure and principles

current practice for media liaison

legal and organisational requirements relating to confidentiality, libel, accuracy, discrimination requirements of media to present information in a newsworthy manner

organisational policies and procedures (such as relevant legislation; operational, corporate and strategic plans; operational performance standards; operational policies and procedures; organisational personnel and occupational health and safety practices and guidelines; organisational quality standards; organisation's approach to environmental management and sustainability)

requirements of different media: newspapers, magazines, radio, television

requirements of local versus regional versus national media

role of media in disseminating information

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.
Initial briefing may include:	Current situation Objectives and strategies Potential occupational health and safety (OH&S) issues Potential public health and environmental risks
Supervisor may be:	Incident Controller in NCTC ICCS Planning Officer in AIIMS
Incident Action Plan may include:	Accommodation and welfare arrangements Communications Plan Incident objectives Information on alternative or fallback strategies Information Plan for dissemination of information to all stakeholders Information regarding the necessary logistical arrangements Management arrangements, including establishment of sectors and divisions Management structure if established Maps or site plans of the incident Medical Plan and consideration of occupational health and safety issues Resources to be allocated to each division and sector Statement of current situation and predictions of the incident's likely development (including key risk exposures) Strategies to achieve defined incident objectives Structural chart depicting the personnel in the incident management arrangements, including establishment of divisions and sectors Timings of meetings and changeovers Traffic management
Incident Management Team may include:	Incident Controller Planning Officer Operations Officer Logistics Officer Safety Advisor
Structure of the Information Unit may include:	Community relations Internal communication Media liaison Web updates
Incident complexity may include:	Agency policy Fuel type Incident location Incident size and behaviour Jurisdictional boundaries Organisational complexity Political sensitivity Threat to life and property Topography Type of incident management and combat operations implemented Values at risk
Briefings may include:	Situation Mission Execution Administration Command Communications Safety
Information Unit Communications Plan may include:	Communication objectives Communication strategies for communicating with the media, the community, internal stakeholders, and involved and affected organisations Feedback mechanisms Messages Target audiences Timelines for communicating with target audiences
Involved and affected organisations may include:	Combat organisations Contracted companies and organisations Control agency Recovery organisations Support organisations Utilities
Risks may include:	Consideration of worst case scenarios Misuse of information by stakeholders Release of incorrect information Safety risks and hazards Values at risk
Constraints may include:	Environmental Physical Political Social Temporal
Target audiences may include:	Businesses General public Government agencies Incident personnel Internet users Local landowner groups Local conservation groups Media Ministers
Stakeholders may include:	Community Government Media Other organisations
Communication with communities both affected and likely to be affected by the incident may include:	Door knocks Forums Letter drops Meetings Radio communications SMS

NTISthis.com

Evidence Guide: PUAOPE021A - Manage information function at an incident

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

PUAOPE021A - Manage information function at an incident

Establish the Information Unit

Collect information on the current and predicted incident situation

Develop an Information Unit Communications Plan

Disseminate information to the community

Engage with the community

Manage the Information Unit

Contribute to the planning processes

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

Instructions to Assessors

Teacher: ___________________________ Date: _