Essential knowledge: The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role These include knowledge of: Design and development of client services and principles of effective service delivery Specific client services provided by the organisation and associated policies and procedures Strategic planning and organisation development Evaluation principles and practices Local, Commonwealth or State services and associated Commonwealth or State regulations, acts or guidelines re service provision Community resources Cultural differences and practices Common health problems encountered in clients Depending on the work role or services provided, specific knowledge of particular groups or issues may be required, such as: alcohol and other drugs (AOD) cultural and linguistic diversity risk of self-harm gender issues and specific needs of women and/or men community education Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people mental health homelessness Where clients are aged the following specific knowledge is required: maximising independence health promotion emotional, psychological and spiritual needs cultural, religious and ceremonial needs maintenance of an adequate diet dementia personal hygiene dressing and grooming mobility and exercise Where clients may have disabilities the following specific knowledge is required: relevant legislation relating to disability issues relevant specific culture and language used by people with disabilities knowledge specific to working with families and family systems understanding different client requirements according to different disabilities networks in the disability sector Where clients may have disabilities the following specific knowledge is required (contd): consumer needs and rights including duty of care principles of empowerment/disempowerment in relation to people with disabilities principles of access and equity current issues facing clients and existing services for addressing needs and rights principles and practices of confidentiality knowledge specific to working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds knowledge specific to working with people at risk of self-harm organisation policies, practices and programs relating to the work role organisation work health and safety (WHS) policies and procedures organisation philosophy and guidelines rights and responsibilities of people with disabilities understanding of stereotypes of people with disabilities available client services awareness of own attitudes to people with disabilities awareness of discriminatory actions common risks to safety Where clients experience mental health issues the following specific knowledge is required: structural, political and other social factors which operate to maintain discrimination against people affected by mental health problems structural, political and other social factors which can be addressed to improve mental health promotion, such as: gender language culture ethnicity age socioeconomic status broad knowledge of mental illness and disability issues internal structure of the mental health system and its relationship within the broader context of health services, welfare services and government policies relevant to mental health at national, state and local level relevant agencies and services which may assist in promoting and advocating for mental illness and/or psychiatric disability issues political lobbying processes use of media for advocacy purposes key stakeholders and how to access them understanding of the balance between the rights of the general community and the rights of people with a mental illness and/or psychiatric disability relevant regulatory, legislative and legal requirements relating to mental health issues Where clients experience mental health issues the following specific knowledge is required (contd): knowledge specific to working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds knowledge specific to working with people at risk of self-harm knowledge specific to the following areas: working with clients with alcohol and other drugs issues working with women working with men working with children and young people working with aged clients working with corrective services clients working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients community education Where clients experience AOD issues the following specific knowledge is required: legal and organisation knowledge: legal and organisation requirements for client registration, allocation and referral organisation policies on reporting and confidentiality organisation policies and procedures for documenting work with clients understanding agency role, agency target group and the impacts on the local community range of AOD specific treatment intervention options including detoxification, in-patient treatment programs, outpatient treatment services, and brief interventions effects of AOD use: signs and symptoms of medical risk associated with AOD use stages and symptoms of AOD withdrawal basic health issues relating to alcohol and/or other drugs use e.g. malnutrition, blood borne diseases, skin infestations, effects of drug use on health, cognitive, social, emotional development and impact on others basic pharmacology - types of drugs; dose levels; effects of specific drugs; tolerance; treatment approaches broadly the effects of alcohol related brain injury consequences and effects of drug substitution/replacement effects of prescribed drugs on the use of other drugs patterns of drug use in Australia and the local community range of use and use scenarios e.g. lifestyle context of illegal drug use legal issues: legal status of drugs legal issues surrounding AOD use policy: public health model - interaction of impact of drugs, individual and the environment harm minimisation including a range of approaches: prevention, early intervention, abstinence, specialist treatment, supply control and safer drug use Where clients experience alcohol and other drugs issues the following specific knowledge is required (contd): working with clients: common relapse precipitants a range of strategies for working with clients strategies to promote participation in programs range of cultural contexts - lifestyle, set of beliefs, customs client empowerment/disempowerment rights of workers and clients different lifestyles self-esteem, abuse issues, self-awareness, own biases, ethical obligations re: helping relationships types of counselling e.g. motivational interviewing, brief and intensive intervention, relapse prevention protocols around use of interpreters client-centredness case management principles working with clients at risk of self-harm: suicidal or self-harming behaviour, ideation or intention no-suicide contracts and other protective strategies links between predisposing factors for self-harm, drug use and mental health problems legal and ethical obligations regarding clients at risk of self-harm or with mental illnesses |