7975 version 4
28-Jun-16
1 of 5
PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Assist social service users to access
social services in the community
level:
5
credit:
6
planned review date:
June 2006
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe
social services in the community, and assist service users to
access and evaluate social services.
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
Glossary
Characteristics and needs may include but are not
limited to: service user age and stage of development,
culture, disability, gender, health status, language,
sexual orientation, and needs for physical comfort,
safety, and privacy.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7975 version 4
28-Jun-16
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Assist social service users to access
social services in the community
Needs for social services include cultural, physical,
spiritual, and mental needs, and may include but are
not limited to: abuse, neglect, and violence issues;
alcohol and drug issues; alternative care; ageing;
career guidance and employment; criminal justice;
cultural needs; disabilities; economic development;
education; finance and income support; gender issues;
grief and loss; housing and land; human rights; infertility
and pregnancy; legal issues; physical and mental
health; recreation; sexuality; youth issues; whānau,
hapū, and iwi needs.
Service user is used as a generic term to denote people
from user groups of the social services, who may be
individuals, couples, families or whānau, or groups.
They may be referred to by various descriptive terms in
the range of social services settings.
Sources of information may include but are not limited
to: Citizen's Advice Bureaux, community houses,
libraries social service directories, social service
networks, agency or organisational information bases
and directories, statutes, statutory regulations, by-laws,
telephone directories, advertisements, promotional
materials, pamphlets, videos.
3
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
7975 version 4
28-Jun-16
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Assist social service users to access
social services in the community
4
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
Describe social services in the community.
performance criteria
1.1
Social services in the community are identified from a range of sources of
information.
Range:
1.2
evidence is required of five sources of information.
The description lists social service providers in the community from each of the
major categories of social service providers.
Range:
major categories of social service providers - central government,
regional government, local government, non-governmental
organisations, Iwi/Maōri social services, Pacific Island social
services.
Evidence is required of two social service providers from each
category.
1.3
Social services in the community are described in terms of their kaupapa or
mission statement.
1.4
Social services in the community are described in terms of the range of services
they provide to meet needs for social services.
Range:
evidence is required of description of two services for each of five
needs for social services from the range in the Glossary.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7975 version 4
28-Jun-16
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Assist social service users to access
social services in the community
1.5
Social services in the community are described in terms of the accessibility and
availability of the social services they provide.
Range:
accessibility and availability may include but are not limited to costs to access the service, eligibility criteria, target populations,
physical access.
Evidence is required of two of the range for each of the services
identified for performance criterion 1.4.
element 2
Assist service users to access and evaluate social services.
performance criteria
2.1
Social services to be accessed are selected according to the strengths and
social service needs of service users.
Range:
2.2
Assistance to service users is provided according to service user requirements.
Range:
2.3
requirements may include but are not limited to - social service
need(s); to be accompanied in accessing services; to be
supported in accessing services; advocacy; brokerage; further
information; referral needs.
Evidence is required of two requirements.
Assistance to service users encourages service user self-determination and
discourages dependency by them on the social service worker.
Range:
2.4
strengths may include but are not limited to - emotional, physical,
and spiritual strengths; knowledge; skills; values; family or whānau
support; existing assets and financial resources.
Evidence is required of two strengths.
assistance may include but is not limited to - advocacy, brokerage,
information, referral, access on behalf of service users, skill
sharing and rehearsal to enable people to access social services
on their own behalf.
Evidence is required of two forms of assistance.
Assistance enables service users to evaluate accessed social services in terms
of their responses to service users.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
7975 version 4
28-Jun-16
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PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES
Assist social service users to access
social services in the community
Range:
2.5
responses may include but are not limited to - welcome, respect,
affirmation, support of service users; attention to physical comfort,
safety, and privacy of service users; response to social service
needs of service users; response to characteristics of service
users; use of language in verbal and written communications with
service users.
The responses of accessed social services are evaluated against the services'
stated accessibility and availability.
Range:
accessibility and availability may include but are not limited to costs to access the service, eligibility criteria, target populations,
physical access.
Evidence is required of one of the range for each of the services
accessed.
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