DK9D 04 (HSC392)Work with families, carers and individuals during times of crisis
Elements of competence
HSC392.1 / Identify and agree risk management strategies with individuals, families and carersHSC392.2 / Assess the urgency of requests for action
HSC392.3 / Agree and implement actions to meet immediate needs
HSC392.4 / Review outcomes with the individuals, families and carers
About this Unit
For this Unit you need to work with individuals and their carers and families in times of crisis to assess the urgency of requests for action, take and review the effectiveness of actions to meet needs and agree risk management strategies.
The term ‘carers and families’ is used to mean any persons who have an active and on-going informal role in caring for the individual with mental health needs, including those with a familial relationship to the individual. Partners, where they exist, would be considered as family members. Individuals with mental health needs may be adults of working age, children or adolescents or older people.
This unit applies to those who respond to and work with individuals with mental health needs and their carers and families during times of crisis.
You will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies.
Scope
The scope is here to give you guidance on possible areas to be covered in this Unit. The terms in this section give you a list of options linked with items in the performance criteria. You need to provide evidence for any option related to your work area.
Needs in relation to: support; prevention; protection; control.
Risk management strategies in relation to needs arising for: support for individuals; support for carers and families; protection of communities and colleagues who may be at risk of harm.
Requests for action raised by: the individual, carers and families; members of your own team; other service providers, agencies and practitioners.
Requests for action may relate to: a single or one-off emergency; repeated crises.
Situation may relate to: a single or one-off emergency; repeated crises.
Actions in relation to meeting immediate needs may include: brief therapy; family therapy; mediation; therapeutic crisis intervention.
Reviews which are: formal; informal.
Evidence Requirements for the Unit
It is essential that you adhere to the Evidence Requirements for this Unit – please see details overleaf.
This is directly transferable to Mental Health unit MH13.
SPECIFIC Evidence Requirements for this unitSimulation:
- Simulation is NOT permitted for any part of this unit.
The following forms of evidence ARE mandatory:
- Direct Observation: Your assessor or an expert witness must observe you in real work activities which provide evidence for some of the performance criteria for most of the elements in this unit. You could be observed, for example co-ordinating a meeting to assess, plan and agree a plan of action.
- Reflective Account/professional discussion: These will be a description of your practice in particular situations. You should be able to describe how you accurately assess each situation (whether one-off or on-going), and how you evaluate the effectiveness of particular interventions.
Competence of performance and knowledge could also be demonstrated using a variety of evidence from the following:
- Questioning/professional discussion: May be used to provide evidence of knowledge, legislation, policies and procedures which cannot be fully evidenced through direct observation or reflective accounts. In addition the assessor/expert witness may also ask questions to clarify aspects of your practice.
- Expert Witness: A designated expert witness may provide direct observation of practice, questioning, professional discussion and feedback on reflective accounts.
- Witness testimony: Can be a confirmation or authentication of the activities described in your evidence which your assessor has not seen. This could be provided by a work colleague or service user.
- Products: These can be records of risk management strategies, assessment reports, action plans and reviews, diary evidence of day to day practice.
GENERAL GUIDANCE
- Prior to commencing this unit you should agree and complete an assessment plan with your assessor which details the assessment methods you will be using, and the tasks you will be undertaking to demonstrate your competence.
- Evidence must be provided for ALL of the performance criteria ALL of the knowledge and the parts of the scope that are relevant to your job role.
- The evidence must reflect the policies and procedures of your workplace and be linked to current legislation, values and the principles of best practice within the Care Sector. This will include the National Service Standards for your areas of work and the individuals you care for.
- All evidence must relate to your own work practice.
Knowledge specification for this unit
Competent practice is a combination of the application of skills and knowledge informed by values and ethics. This specification details the knowledge and understanding required to carry out competent practice in the performance described in this unit.
When using this specification it is important to read the knowledge requirements in relation to expectations and requirements of your job role.
You need to provide evidence for ALL knowledge points listed below. There are a variety of ways this can be achieved so it is essential that you read the ‘knowledge evidence’ section of the Assessment Guidance.
You need to show that you know, understand and can apply in practice: / Enter Evidence NumbersLegislation and organisational policy and procedures
1Relevant legislation and how this should inform the actions taken in response to urgent requests for action and any risk management strategies.
2How the legislative framework affects service provider policy and practices.
3Relevant legislation and its implications for the recording, storing and sharing of information.
4The agency’s policy and procedures regarding confidentiality of information and the disclosure of information to third parties, and the specific circumstances under which disclosure may be made.
Theory and practice
5The types of support available to individuals, carers and families in the event of a crisis.
6The relevant methods and models of intervention that may be appropriate.
7What the purpose and priorities are of the service provider and how these influence the kinds of support offered.
8The range of factors that need to be taken into account when determining the urgency of a request for action and how best to respond to it, including economic and social factors, any illnesses which the individual may have, risk assessment, and restrictions which may apply under legislation.
9The details which need to be specified in risk assessments and risk management strategies.
10Different methods of enabling carers and families to participate in the agreement and review of actions taken in times of crisis and in the development of risk management strategies.
11The importance of ensuring that individuals, carers and families are actively involved in the process of agreeing and reviewing actions taken and in developing risk management strategies.
12How to communicate clearly and effectively.
13How to make a valid assessment of the urgency of a request for action.
14How to facilitate individual, carer and family participation.
15How to conduct valid, reliable and comprehensive reviews.
16How to write reports, including statutory documentation.
HSC392.1Identify and agree risk management strategies with individuals, families and carers
Performance criteriaDO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
1You assess the risk of crisis situations occurring with individuals, families and carers.
2You obtain current, accurate and complete information about the circumstances in which needs have arisen and may arise.
3You work with individuals, carers and families to:
(a)take account of information on the effectiveness of different actions taken in response to the needs arising
(b)identify and evaluate actions that could be taken to avoid or minimise risk to individuals, families, carers and others
(c)review the care plan in light of changes in the needs and vulnerabilities of individuals, carers and families
4You enable individuals, carers and families to contribute actively and openly to the process of identifying and agreeing appropriate risk management strategies.
5You use your assessments to formulate risk management strategies in which you take account of:
(a)concerns raised by individuals, families, carers, communities, colleagues and other professionals
(b)individuals’ right to take risks balanced against the likelihood of harm to themselves and/or others
(c)the situation and circumstances associated with the risk
6You negotiate agreement to the risk management strategies with the individuals, carers, families, service providers, other agencies and practitioners.
DO = Direct ObservationRA = Reflective AccountQ = Questions
EW = Expert Witness P = Product (Work)WT = Witness Testimony
HSC392.1Identify and agree risk management strategies with individuals, families and carers (cont)
Performance criteriaDO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
7You enable all those who will contribute to the risk management strategies, to clarify and confirm their understanding of the strategies and their roles and responsibilities within them.
8You detail and record the agreed risk management strategies and ensure that they are communicated clearly to those who need to receive them.
HSC392.2Assess the urgency of requests for action
Performance criteriaDO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
1You obtain as much accurate information as possible on the nature of, and reasons for, the requests for action.
2You evaluate the information and form a valid judgement as to the seriousness and urgency of the requests for action.
3You follow the guidelines of the service provider in making an assessment as to the urgency of requests for action.
4You obtain accurate, relevant, reliable and current information on the strengths, vulnerabilities, needs and circumstances of the individual, carers and family.
5You identify any conflicts of interest arising from the requests for action in relation to the needs of the individual and their carers/families.
6You record and justify your assessment of the urgency of requests for action and make it available to those who need to receive it.
HSC393.3Agree and implement actions to meet immediate needs
Performance criteriaDO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
1You work with families, carers and individuals to assess the situation, including risks to individuals, carers, families and others, and identify the actions required to meet immediate needs.
2You enable individuals, carers and families to participate in the decision making process as actively as time and circumstances permit.
DO = Direct ObservationRA = Reflective AccountQ = Questions
EW = Expert Witness P = Product (Work)WT = Witness Testimony
HSC393.3Agree and implement actions to meet immediate needs (cont)
Performance criteriaDO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
3You offer views and suggestions in a way which is non-threatening to individuals, carers and families and which is sensitive to your own power and authority.
4You build on the preferences of individuals, carers and families when working with them to agree actions.
5You ensure compliance with legislative requirements and the policy, practices and procedures of your organisation.
6You clearly specify the actions to be taken and who will undertake them.
7You negotiate agreement on the information which will need to be shared, and with whom, in accordance with agency and legislative requirements.
8You ensure that the details of the actions to be taken are communicated clearly to all those who need to know them.
9You ensure that the agreed actions are implemented as promptly as possible in accordance with the assessed urgency of the need.
10You keep accurate, complete and up to date records of the actions agreed and implemented.
HSC393.4Review outcomes with the individuals, families and carers
Performance criteriaDO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
1You review the outcomes of actions taken to address immediate needs, at the earliest possible opportunity.
2You ensure that all parties are aware of and have the opportunity to contribute to the review process.
3You enable individuals, carers and families to express their views on the effectiveness of the actions taken in a frank, honest and constructive manner.
4You ensure that the review process is conducted in an environment that facilitates active participation by individuals, carers and families.
5You clearly summarise the outcomes of the review and enable all those who have contributed to it, to comment on the summary.
DO = Direct ObservationRA = Reflective AccountQ = Questions
EW = Expert Witness P = Product (Work)WT = Witness Testimony
HSC393.4Review outcomes with the individuals, families and carers (cont)
Performance criteriaDO / RA / EW / Q / P / WT
6You keep an accurate, complete and up to date record of the review and decisions taken and ensure that it is stored securely.
7You use the results of the review to inform the service provided to the individual, family and carers and to inform future actions taken in response to crisis situations.
8You ensure that the results of the review are communicated clearly to all those who need to receive them.
DO = Direct ObservationRA = Reflective AccountQ = Questions
EW = Expert Witness P = Product (Work)WT = Witness Testimony
To be completed by the CandidateI SUBMIT THIS AS A COMPLETE UNIT
Candidate’s name: ……………………………………………
Candidate’s signature: ………………………………………..
Date: …………………………………………………………..
To be completed by the Assessor
It is a shared responsibility of both the candidate and assessor to claim evidence, however, it is the responsibility of the assessor to ensure the accuracy/validity of each evidence claim and make the final decision.
I certify that sufficient evidence has been produced to meet all the elements, pcS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS UNIT.
Assessor’s name: …………………………………………….
Assessor’s signature: ………………………………………....
Date: …………………………………………………………..
Assessor/Internal Verifier Feedback
To be completed by the Internal Verifier if applicable
This section only needs to be completed if the Unit is sampled by the Internal Verifier
Internal Verifier’s name: ……………………………………………
Internal Verifier’s signature: ………………………………………..
Date: ……………………………………..…………………………..
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Unit: DK9D 04 (HSC392) Work with families, carers and individuals during times of crisis