7962 version 4
28-Jun-16
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Intervene in crisis situations with
individuals, couples, families and
whānau
level:
5
credit:
6
planned review date:
June 2006
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to: assess
whether a crisis situation exists with the service user; plan to
intervene in the crisis situation with the service user; and
facilitate implementation of the crisis intervention plan with
the service user.
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).
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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2
Glossary
Agreement with the service user or other significant
people reflects the desirability of the social service
worker first attempting to achieve agreement with the
service user (and their family or whānau in the case of
an individual service user) on accuracy of information
and any processes to be undertaken.
In some
instances this may not be possible. In those situations,
agreement is judged in terms of information and
opinions held by other people of significance, who first
include members of the service user's family or
whānau; and secondly, health and social service
workers, ministers of religion, police officers, solicitors,
and others who have current knowledge about the
participants and their situation.
Characteristics and needs of service users may be
physical, spiritual, or mental. Characteristics and needs
may include but are not limited to: age and stage of
development; coping strategies; couple, family or
whānau roles and dynamics; culture; disability
experience; knowledge; personal history of an
individual service user; family or whānau history;
gender; health status; language; psycho-social situation
and systems; sexual orientation; socio-economic
situation; and needs for physical comfort, safety, and
privacy.
Crisis means a state of significant change or upset in
the equilibrium of an individual, couple, family or
whānau. This may occur when the individual, couple,
family or whānau face 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.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Intervene in crisis situations with
individuals, couples, families and
whānau
Risk factors may include but are not limited to: alcohol
and drug use, criminal offending, physical or mental
health disorders, attempted suicide and suicide,
violence.
Service user is used as a generic term to denote the
individual, couple, family or whānau who are involved in
a crisis intervention situation. They may be referred to
by various descriptive terms in the range of social
services settings.
3
Social service workers may work with crises with adults,
children and young persons, and elders; physical,
spiritual, and psychiatric care; alcohol and drug use;
attempted suicide and suicide; abuse, neglect, and
violence within families or whānau; other violence.
People awarded credit in this unit standard demonstrate
competence in intervening in crisis situations with
individuals, couples, or families or whānau in at least
one of these types of crisis situations.
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 may include
but are not limited to: Family Proceedings Act 1980,
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
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Intervene in crisis situations with
individuals, couples, families and
whānau
5
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 whether a crisis situation exists with the service user.
performance criteria
1.1
The assessment process is carried out using methods that acknowledge the
characteristics and needs of the service user.
1.2
The assessment determines whether or not a state of crisis exists, and the
stage of crisis that has been reached, according to the perceptions of their
situation held by the service user.
1.3
If the assessment determines that no state of crisis exists, further action is
determined according to the needs, views, and wishes of the service user and
available resources.
1.4
If the assessment determines that a state of crisis exists, risk factors are
identified according to assessment of the nature of the crisis, circumstances
leading up to the state of crisis, the coping mechanisms of the service user, and
situational support systems.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Intervene in crisis situations with
individuals, couples, families and
whānau
element 2
Plan to intervene in the crisis situation with the service user.
performance criteria
2.1
The plan is designed according to identified risk factors, the nature of the crisis,
circumstances leading up to the state of the crisis, the coping mechanisms of
the service user, and situational support systems.
2.2
Planning is focussed on assisting the service user to resolve the crisis.
2.3
Planning is in accordance with agreement with the service user or other
significant people.
2.4
The plan includes immediate care and protection measures where there is an
identified need to protect people whose life or safety may be in danger from
their own actions or the actions of others.
2.5
The plan identifies methods to be used to evaluate the response to the
intervention and strategies to be implemented in the event of continuing or
increased risk factors in the crisis.
element 3
Facilitate implementation of the crisis intervention plan with the service user.
performance criteria
3.1
Facilitation of implementation is carried out according to the terms of the plan.
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Intervene in crisis situations with
individuals, couples, families and
whānau
3.2
Immediate care and protection measures are implemented where there is an
identified need to protect people whose life or safety may be in danger from
their own actions or the actions of others.
3.3
The method(s) used to facilitate implementation match(es) the characteristics
and needs of the service user and the nature of the crisis.
3.4
The response of the service user to the intervention is evaluated according to
the terms of the plan and assessment of risk factors in the situation.
3.5
Any alterations to the intervention are according to the terms of the plan for
responding to the evaluation.
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