E303Support individuals with difficult or potentially difficult relationships

Elements of competence

E303.1Support individuals in their decisions regarding relationships

E303.2 Support individuals in maintaining and evaluating contact in difficult or potentially difficult relationships.

Summary

This unit focuses on supporting individuals with relationships which are potentially or actually difficult for whatever reason. For example, the individual may have been out of contact for a period of time (eg in prison), there may be a history of difficulties with the individual’s relationships, or their behaviour may have been aggressive or abusive in the past. The worker helps individuals evaluate, and make decisions about, their relationships and helps them establish and maintain contact, including giving practical support with preparations for contact. The worker may have to deal with situations where there are tensions or conflict between the individual’s wishes and the wishes of those with whom they are trying to establish or maintain contact.

Who this unit is aimed at

This unit is applicable across the community justice sector. It is likely to be relevant to a wide range of workers who work with individuals who have difficult or potentially difficult relationships and for whom such support has been agreed.

Relationships to other units

D101 Assist in the assessment of individuals’ offending behaviour and in planning provision

F312 Support and advise individual learners

E408 Support individuals experiencing difficulties

A205 Lead the work of teams and individuals to achieve their objectives

E103 Contribute to planning and reviewing integrated housing and support

Place in SVQ framework

This unit occurs in the following qualifications: SVQ Community Justice: Work with Offending Behaviour level 3.

Evidence Requirements for this unit

You must provide your assessor with evidence for all the Performance Criteria and all aspects of the Range and Knowledge. The evidence may be provided in the following ways, taking account of any Special Considerations which may be noted below:

Special Considerations

Direct observation of real work activities by the assessor must be used to provide at least some of the evidence for both of the elements in this unit. Performance Criteria which might not be observed include:

E303.1.2

E303.1.4

E303.2.7

These Performance Criteria can be covered during the observations if the opportunity arises.

Assessment Guidance

When planning assessment, candidates should consider how they may best use evidence across a number of units. Evidence from the following units may be particularly relevant to this unit.

E305 Enable individuals to maintain contacts in potentially isolating situations

F405 Assist in the transfer of individuals between agencies and services

Candidates may wish to consider how they can plan their evidence collection around a small number of individuals, with whom they are working over a period of time, on various aspects relating to addressing their offending behaviour.

Candidates may wish to use these sources of evidence

witness testimony from those with whom the worker has worked

notes and records

records/reports from the evaluation

their reflective practice journal

Element D303.1Support individuals in their decisions regarding relationships

Performance criteria / Type of evidence – state evidence index no(s) / Date
DO / P / W / RA / Q / Other
1Acknowledge the needs of individuals in developing and maintaining relationships, agreed with individuals the support they require and confirm this with the rest of the work team
2Discuss in a supportive manner the effects which contact may have on others if individuals are unsure or unaware of this
3Give individuals specific information about their relationship with others, if they ask for such information and it is consistent with agency policy and practice guidelines
4Seek advice and assistance from an appropriate member of the team if they are unable to provide any information requested or are uncertain how to respond to the request
5Help individuals to reflect on and consider their relationships and the implications of developing and maintaining them
6Discuss and negotiate options with individuals who want to make contact with others
7Discuss conditions regarding contacts with those involved and establish a working agreement
8Discuss with the individual any obstacles to communicating with the people who they wish to contact and agree plans for overcoming the obstacles
9Discuss and agree with the individual what to do if they decide they do not want to make contact with a particular person, or if a person that the individual wants to contact does not wish them to do so

Element E303.1Support individuals in their decisions regarding relationships

Performance criteria / Type of evidence – state evidence index no(s) / Date
DO / P / W / RA / Q / Other
10Record and acknowledge the individual’s wishes and decisions about whether and how contacts should be made, discuss these with the team and establish a working agreement
11Accurately and clearly inform the team of any decisions made by the individual about their relationships.

Element E303.1Support individuals in their decisions regarding relationships

Range / Type of evidence — state evidence index no(s) / Date
DO / P / W / RA / Q / Other
1Relationships that the individual is:
a)anxious to maintain
b)uncertain about
c)constrained by the legal position

Element E303.2Support individuals in maintaining and evaluating contact in difficult or potentially difficult relationships

Performance criteria / Type of evidence – state evidence index no(s) / Date
DO / P / W / RA / Q / Other
1Establish the level of support required by individuals consistent with any conditions laid down regarding the contact
2Make facilities available for contact and support individuals in using them
3Support individuals to handle any anxieties and make preparations for contact
4Support and encourage individuals during contact with those who are significant to them, consistent with any agreements reached with individuals
5Help individuals to manage conflicts and tensions in their relationships constructively
6Give individuals sufficient opportunities for support and reflection following contact with others
7Seek advice from an appropriate person without delay, or take action to protect the individual’s welfare, if the individual’s behaviour or condition gives cause for concern
8Record accurately, legibly and completely any changes in the individual’s requirements in relation to contacts

Element E303.2Support individuals in maintaining and evaluating contact in difficult or potentially difficult relationships

Range / Type of evidence – state evidence index no(s) / Date
DO / P / W / RA / Q / Other
1Contact:
a)where the worker is present
b)where the worker is available before and after the contact but not during the actual contact
2Preparations for contact:
a)letter writing
b)telephoning
c)travel arrangements
d)accommodation arrangements.

Knowledge specification for the whole of this unit

You must show your assessor that you know and understand the following:

Legislation, policy and good practice / State evidence index no(s)
1Legal and agency procedures and guidelines (such as those relating, for example, to documentation) which are relevant to individuals with difficult, or potentially difficult, relationships and the possible impact of these on the worker/individual relationship
2Legislation and guidelines particular to the individual group involved (eg the Children Act, Mental Health Act) and relevant to all (including the Community Care Act) and how these affect the worker’s role and responsibilities
3Why the need for support to the individual should be acknowledged
4Why conditions might be attached to a contact, and why a working agreement should be reached with those involved
5Why the behaviours and conditions which give cause for concern should be reported without delay and to whom
6Why the effects of contact with the individual and others should be discussed
7Why information exchanged with the individual should be consistent with the worker’s role and agreements of the team
Services and products
8Agencies relevant to the contact (either because of their prior involvement or because they may be able to offer support)
9When and how advocacy should be provided
10The support which the worker may need when dealing with those who have difficult relationships
Factors which influence what workers do
11Factors influencing an individual’s ability to make decisions
12Individual growth, development and self-image
13The worker’s role in supporting individuals with difficult relationships and the boundaries and limits of that role
14Factors which influence self-image
15The importance of relationships to individual development, growth and self-image
Factors which influence what workers do
16How relationships are formed and may change
17The different forms which family patterns and relationships may take
18Factors influencing roles and communication within the family
19The physical conditions and emotional factors which may have an effect on relationships (such as Alzheimer’s disease, depressive states and where significant harm has been a concern in the past)
How to achieve important outcomes
20The basic counselling skills which may be appropriate for such situations
Knowledge and understanding / Type of evidence – state evidence index no(s) / Date
DO / P / W / RA / Q / Other
There is sufficient evidence of knowledge and understanding for this unit
Evidence requirements / Type of evidence – state evidence index no(s) / Date
DO / P / W / RA / Q / Other
The evidence generated by the candidate meets the evidence requirements for this unit
Assessor/Internal Verifier comments

Candidate’s nameAssessor’s nameIV’s name

Candidate’s signatureAssessor’s signatureIV’s signature

DateDateDate

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Unit: B7YC 04 (E303) Support individuals with difficult or potentially difficult relationships