7963 version 4
28-Jun-16
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Contribute to the empowerment of
people experiencing oppression and
marginalisation
level:
4
credit:
3
planned review date:
June 2006
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe
oppression and marginalisation of service users; contribute
to the planning of strategies for service user empowerment;
and contribute to implementation of the plan for service user
empowerment.
This unit standard covers oppression of people who are
users of social services, on the basis of their age, culture,
disabilities, economic status, gender, or sexual orientation.
entry information:
Open.
accreditation option:
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
moderation option:
A centrally established and directed national moderation
system has been set up by Community Support Services ITO
Limited (Careerforce).
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7963 version 4
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Contribute to the empowerment of
people experiencing oppression and
marginalisation
special notes:
1
People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to
outline the meaning of the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
and the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi to social
service work, and are able to apply this competence to
the context of assessment for this unit standard (for
further clarification, please refer to Unit 19408, Outline
the meaning and relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in
social service work).
2
This unit standard may be assessed on the basis of
evidence of demonstrated performance in the work
place, and/or through the use of simulated work place
situations that closely approximate the performance
required in workplace settings. Work place settings can
include field education placements.
3
Glossary
Empowerment recognises that people may be
oppressed and marginalised, and lose power and
control over their own lives by virtue of oppression on
the basis of characteristics such as their age, culture,
disabilities, economic status, gender, or sexual
orientation. To "empower" connotes attainment or
restoration of power and control.
"Empowerment is the process by which people,
organisations, or groups who are powerless (a) become
aware of the power dynamics at work in their life
context, (b) develop the skills and capacity for gaining
some reasonable control over their lives, (c) exercise
this control without infringing upon the rights of others,
and (d) support the Empowerment of others in their
community." McWhirter, Ellen Hawley.
1991.
"Empowerment in counselling". Journal of Counselling
and Development 69:224.
Service user is used as a generic term to denote people
from user groups of the social services. They may be
referred to by various descriptive terms in the range of
social services settings.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7963 version 4
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Contribute to the empowerment of
people experiencing oppression and
marginalisation
Service user characteristics include physical, spiritual,
and mental characteristics, which may include but are
not limited to: age and stage of development, coping
strategies,
culture,
disability,
experience
and
knowledge, individual or group history, gender, group
roles and dynamics, health status, language, sexual
orientation, economic status. Service user needs may
include but are not limited to: needs to be listened to,
respected, believed, affirmed, and supported; and
needs for physical comfort, safety, and privacy.
Strategies may include but are not limited to: individual
or couple counselling, family meetings or whānau hui,
crisis intervention, social services information or advice,
referral to other services, mobilisation of resources,
community education or recreation, community or social
change, changes to social policy or structures,
economic development.
Structures may include but are not limited to: cultural,
economic, ideological, and kin structures; political and
social agencies and organisations; and other
arrangements that distribute or process resources, or
maintain, manage, govern, or organise society.
4
All communications are treated confidentially. The
scope and limits of confidentiality are defined through
negotiation and informed consent, and criteria
established by legislation, ethical practice, and service
provider guidelines. In the context of this unit standard,
sources of criteria established by legislation, ethical
practice, and service provider guidelines include but are
not limited to: Official Information Act 1982, Privacy Act
1993, service provider codes of conduct, codes of
practice issued by the Privacy Commissioner, social
service codes of ethics, and service provider guidelines,
protocols, staff manuals, strategic plans, kawa, or
tikanga.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7963 version 4
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Contribute to the empowerment of
people experiencing oppression and
marginalisation
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Describe oppression and marginalisation of service users.
performance criteria
1.1
The description outlines the types of oppression and marginalisation that occur
on the basis of service user characteristics.
Range:
1.2
The description outlines the history and effects of the experience of oppression
according to available sources of information.
Range:
1.3
characteristics - age, disabilities, economic status, gender, race,
sexual orientation;
types - personal, institutional, societal.
oral accounts, personal interviews, comparative social statistics
between oppressed populations and other populations, written
sources.
The description outlines structures that are oppressive to service users in terms
of the type of oppression experienced by them.
element 2
Contribute to the planning of strategies for service user empowerment.
performance criteria
2.1
Contributions to planning assist in identifying strategies to address the type of
oppression or marginalisation and are appropriate to restoration of selfdetermination to service users.
2.2
Contributions to planning are made in terms of service user characteristics and
needs and the social service worker's role and function.
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Contribute to the empowerment of
people experiencing oppression and
marginalisation
2.3
Contributions to planning are consistent with methods that encourage selfdetermination of service users and discourage dependency by them on the
social service worker or service provider.
2.4
Proposals for strategies are within parameters established by service users.
Range:
2.5
parameters may include but are not limited to - culture, values,
and experience of service users; objectives for change; potential
for effectiveness in achieving objectives.
Contributions to planning assist in addressing the development of essential
aspects of the plan for service user empowerment.
Range:
essential aspects may include but are not limited to - objectives,
resources, time frame, responsibilities and accountabilities of
people involved in service user empowerment, reality testing of
planned strategies, target people (or target structures), evaluation
methods.
Evidence is required of three of the range.
element 3
Contribute to implementation of the plan for service user empowerment.
performance criteria
3.1
Contributions are made in accordance with the social service worker's role and
function in the plan.
3.2
Issues encountered in implementation are responded to in accordance with the
provisions of the plan.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7963 version 4
28-Jun-16
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Contribute to the empowerment of
people experiencing oppression and
marginalisation
Comments to:
Careerforce
PO Box 2637
Wellington 6140
Please Note:
Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority
before they can offer programmes of education and training
assessed against unit standards.
Accredited providers assessing against unit standards must
engage with the moderation system that applies to those unit
standards. [Please refer to relevant Plan ref: 0222]
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016