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Respond to a person with acute issues
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level:
5
credit:
6
planned review date:
June 2006
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to
assess the service user's situation related to misuse of
alcohol and other drugs, and respond to acute issues related
to misuse of alcohol and other drugs.
entry information:
Open.
accreditation option:
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and
teaching professional in the same field from another
provider.
moderation option:
A centrally established and directed national moderation
system has been set up by Community Support Services ITO
Limited (Careerforce).
special notes:
1
People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to
explain the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the
social services, and are able to apply this competence
to the context of assessment for this unit standard (for
further clarification, please refer to Unit 7927, Explain
the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the social
services).
2
This unit standard may be assessed on the basis of
evidence of demonstrated performance in the work
place, or through the use of simulated work place
situations that closely approximate the performance
required in workplace settings. It is recommended that
assessment for this unit standard occur alongside
assessment for Unit 13104, Demonstrate knowledge of
alcohol and other drugs in social service work, and Unit
13106, Provide screening related to use or misuse of
alcohol and other drugs.
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3
Glossary
Alcohol and other drugs is the chosen term for this unit
standard. Alcohol is a drug, but it is specified because
reference to drugs may or may not be interpreted to
include alcohol.
Characteristics and needs of a service user may be
physical, spiritual, or mental. Characteristics and needs
include: age and stage of development, beliefs, culture,
disability, gender, health status, language, sexual
orientation, values, and needs for physical comfort,
safety, and privacy.
Crisis means a state of significant change or upset in
the equilibrium of the life of a service user. This may
occur when the individual faces difficulties which are for
a period of time not manageable by their usual coping
methods. Crises may be provoked by anticipated life
events, developmental changes, or by sudden
traumatic stress, leading to a state both of danger and
opportunity for positive change and development.
Misuse means the use of alcohol or other drugs that
includes or exceeds hazardous use on a continuum of
use.
Other drugs refers to both prescribed and nonprescribed drugs, and includes anticholinergics,
cannabis, benzodiazepines, inhalants, hallucinogens,
opiates, and nicotine and other stimulants.
Service user is used as a generic term to denote people
who have acute issues related to alcohol and other
drugs. They may be referred to by various descriptive
terms in the range of social service settings.
4
All communications with the service user are treated
confidentially. The scope and limits of confidentiality
are defined through negotiation and informed consent
of the service user, 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
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service codes of ethics, and service provider guidelines,
protocols, staff manuals, strategic plans, kawa or
tikanga.
5
Other legislation or codes relevant to this unit standard
include the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (provisions
related to the classes of drugs and range of penalties),
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Act 1966 and Mental
Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act
1992 (provisions related to compulsory assessment and
treatment), Transport Act 1962 (Section 38), Maori
Community Development Act 1962 (provisions related
to the control of alcohol and the misuse of alcohol),
Education Act 1989 (provisions related to suspension
and expulsion of students), the Protection of Personal
and Property Rights Act 1988 (provisions related to
appointment of a property manager and welfare
guardian), and the Code of Health and Disability
Services Consumer's Rights.
6
People awarded credit in this unit standard demonstrate
and self monitor their ability to relate to difference, as
evidenced by acknowledgement and respect for
difference, acceptance, genuineness, honesty, humility,
patience, and warmth. They use inclusive language,
and skills that are appropriate to the characteristics and
needs of the service user. They seek to establish and
maintain rapport with the service user, positive
feedback is responded to, criticism or negative
feedback is responded to without defensiveness, and
changes required to re-establish rapport are acted
upon. They demonstrate and communicate clarity
about their role in the social services within their
relationship with the service user. They know the limits
of their role, function and competence, and when to
refer on to others.
7
People awarded credit in this unit standard demonstrate
knowledge of the service provider's standards for safe
practice in dealing with needles and body fluids.
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8
People awarded credit in this unit standard show that
their actions are guided and supported by valid theory
for social service practice. Evidence is required of
social service theory that is derived from authoritative
sources, which may include but are not limited to: body
of knowledge related to social service work; cultural
theory; practice research.
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Assess the service user's situation related to misuse of alcohol and other drugs.
performance criteria
1.1
Procedures to assess the service user's situation related to misuse of alcohol
and other drugs are employed according to the nature and degree of any
intoxication of the service user.
1.2
Signs and symptoms and acute issues related to the service user's misuse of
alcohol and other drugs are identified according to the outcomes of screening or
other brief assessment.
Range:
1.3
acute issues - risk of self endangerment, risks to others, risk of
harm to property, risk of infection, actual infection, family or
whānau crisis or other crisis;
infection - blood and other body fluid borne infections including
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV.
The service user's situation related to misuse of alcohol and other drugs is
assessed in the context of available information related to other aspects of the
service user's personal and social situation.
Range:
other aspects - service user characteristics and needs; family or
whānau situation; legal situation; physical and mental health;
previous history of intervention for alcohol and drug misuse.
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1.4
Screening or other brief assessment methods are used according to the service
user's characteristics and needs.
element 2
Respond to acute issues related to misuse of alcohol and other drugs.
performance criteria
2.1
Where the service user is intoxicated, the nature and level of the response is
according to the degree of intoxication of the service user.
2.2
The nature and level of the response is according to the identified acute issues
related to the service user's misuse of alcohol and other drugs.
Range:
responses include but are not limited to - provision of or referral for
assessment, detoxification, education and information giving, face
to face or telephone counselling, community support, short term or
long term residential treatment, self help groups.
Evidence is required of provision of one of the range of responses,
and referral for one other.
2.3
Responses are according to prioritisation of the acute issues in terms of their
severity or identified safety risk(s).
2.4
The nature and level of the response is according to the characteristics and
needs of the service user.
2.5
Follow up procedures are established and implemented according to the nature
of the response, service user characteristics and needs, and service provider
guidelines.
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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