This qualification covers people who provide person-centred care that takes into account the pastoral care needs arising from people's experiences.
Work may take place in a range of contexts such as the client's workplace, hospitals, aged care facilities, schools and community environments. Pastoral care workers work with other practitioners in developing holistic approaches to care.
This qualification prepares pastoral care workers to:
Provide pastoral care, advice and support
Identify and assess client well being and needs
Participate as a member of an inter-disciplinary team
Provide basic ethical, moral and spiritual direction and pastoral counselling with referral to appropriate professionals where appropriate
Provide pastoral care information.
The qualification aims to develop foundation skills involved in pastoral care work. The development of self-awareness and pastoral identity required to underpin effective work in pastoral care must be developed over time, through professionally supervised practice.
Pastoral care workers are required to be immersed in the practices of their organisation and to operate within a highly ethical and moral framework. Their role may include the ethical, moral and spiritual support of clients on a day-to-day basis.
Occupational titles may include:
Human resources manager
Workplace chaplain
Pastoral care worker
Subjects
PACKAGING RULES
13 units are required for award of this qualification including:
8 core units
5 elective units
A wide range of elective units is available, including:
Group A elective which is recommended for culturally aware and respectful practice
Other relevant electives listed below
Units of competency to address workplace requirements and packaged at the level of this qualification or higher in Community Services and/or Health Training Packages
Where appropriate, to address workplace requirements, up to 2 units of competency packaged at the level of this qualification or higher in other relevant Training Packages or accredited courses where the details of those courses are available on the NTIS or other public listing
Core units
CHCCOM403A Use targeted communication skills to build relationships
CHCCS411B Work effectively in the community sector
CHCCS422A Respond holistically to client issues and refer appropriately
HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
OR
HLTHIR404D Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
The importance of culturally aware and respectful practice
All workers undertaking pastoral care work need foundation knowledge to inform their work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and co-workers and with clients and co-workers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This foundation must be provided and assessed as part of a holistic approach to delivery and assessment of this qualification. Specific guidelines for assessment of this aspect of competency are provided in the Assessment Guidelines for the Community Services Training Package.
Group A - elective recommended for culturally aware and respectful practice
This qualification has been structured to provide a specific focus on either Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or culturally diverse clients.
Where work involves a specific focus on both Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse clients or communities, candidates are recommended to select whichever of the following units not selected as core:
HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
HLTHIR404D Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
Other relevant electives
Electives are to be selected in line with specified Packaging Rules. Employers may specify that certain electives are required to address specific workplace needs. The following grouping of electives is provided to facilitate selection and does not necessarily reflect workplace requirements.