NZQA Expiring unit standard
21927 version 4
Page 1 of 5
Title
Describe how to respond to incidents and prepare an incident report
in mental health support work
Level
4
Credits
6
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe
potential incidents in mental health support work; describe how
to respond to incidents in mental health support work; describe
record keeping and reporting requirements for incidents in
mental health support work; and prepare a report on an
incident in mental health support work.
Classification
Mental Health > Support of Mental Health Consumers/Tangata
Whai Ora
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
Glossary
Abuse includes emotional, financial, physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, and
emotional and physical neglect.
Codes of conduct related to mental health include but are not limited to: service
provider codes of conduct, professional association codes of conduct or ethics, New
Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer's
Rights.
The Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer's Rights can be downloaded
from:
http://www.hdc.org.nz/
The following New Zealand Standards also set standards of conduct for mental
health support workers:
a
New Zealand Standard (NZS) 8143:2001 Health and Disability Sector Standard
– Te Awarua o te Hauora;
b
New Zealand Standard (NZS) 8143:2001 National Mental Health Sector
Standard – He Whariki Oranga Hinengaro;
c
Occupational Safety and Health Service. January 1995. A guide for employers
and employees on dealing with violence at work: Information for employers and
other people who may be exposed to physical assault, verbal abuse, threats or
intimidation. Wellington: Occupational Safety and Heath Service, Department
of Labour.
The Occupational Safety and Health guidelines can be downloaded from the
following web site:
http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/
Cultural factors may include but are not limited to body language, cultural mores, eye
contact, verbal language.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
21927 version 4
Page 2 of 5
Incidents may present risks to the health or well-being of the consumer/tangata whai
ora or other people. Incidents may include but are not limited to: abuse; adverse
reactions from prescribed or illegal drugs, or drug overdoses; attempts at or threats of
self harm; accidents and injuries; challenging or threatening behaviour; harassment;
seizures; threats to property.
Laws and codes related to confidentiality and privacy include but are not limited to:
Official Information Act 1982, Privacy Act 1993, Code of Health and Disability
Services Consumer's Rights, Health Information Privacy Code 1994, service provider
codes of conduct.
The Health Information Privacy Code can be downloaded from the Privacy
Commissioner's website:
http://privacy.org.nz/the-privacy-act-and-codes/codes-of-practice/health-informationprivacy-code/
Mental health support worker refers to the person seeking award of credit in this unit
standard.
2
Assessment notes
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.
The following applies to the performance of all outcomes of this unit standard. All
activities must comply with:
a
service provider guidelines, protocols, staff manuals, strategic plans, kawa,
tikanga;
b
Mental Health Commission. 2001. Recovery competencies for New Zealand
mental health workers. Wellington: Mental Health Commission;
c
relevant cultural, legislative, and regulatory requirements, which include but are
not limited to: Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights 1996;
NZS 8134:2001, Health and Disability Sector Standards; Health and Disability
Services (Safety) Act 2001; Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; Human
Rights Act 1993; Official Information Act 1982; Privacy Act 1993.
d
Other legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to:
Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989, Domestic Violence Act
1995, Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992,
Privacy Act 1993, Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988.
3
People awarded this unit standard demonstrate confidentiality in their relationship
with the consumer/tangata whai ora and family or whānau, except where there is an
ethical, legal, or organisational duty on the mental health support worker to report
serious incidents. The limits of confidentiality are set according to criteria that include
but are not limited to – legislation, codes of conduct, and service provider guidelines.
These may include but are not limited to – the Official Information Act 1982; Privacy
Act 1993; and codes of practice issued by the Privacy Commissioner. Service
provider guidelines means the guidelines of the service provider where the
assessment against this unit standard is taking place.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
21927 version 4
Page 3 of 5
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe potential incidents in mental health support work.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Potential incidents in mental health support work are described and examples
are given.
Range
1.2
Potential incidents in mental health support work are described in terms of ways
in which they could have been prevented.
Range
1.3
evidence is required of four examples.
evidence is required of four examples.
The influence of cultural factors in incidents in mental health support work is
described.
Range
evidence is required of two examples of potential causation of
incidents through cultural misunderstanding and two examples of
prevention through cultural understanding or skills.
Outcome 2
Describe how to respond to incidents in mental health support work.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Ways of preventing or responding to incidents in mental health support work are
described in terms of one service provider's guidelines.
Range
2.2
evidence is required of four ways.
Follow up after incidents in mental health support work is described in terms of
one service provider's guidelines.
Range
follow up may include but is not limited to – debriefing; liaison with
other mental health personnel; liaison with whānau or family;
assessment of and reflection on the incident to determine the need
for change to service provision or mental health support worker
practice.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
21927 version 4
Page 4 of 5
Outcome 3
Describe record keeping and reporting requirements for incidents in mental health support
work.
Evidence requirements
3.1
The description outlines confidentiality and privacy requirements in terms of
record keeping in mental health support work.
3.2
The description outlines the purposes and future usage of record keeping in
mental health support work.
purposes of record keeping may include but are not limited to –
accountability; accuracy of information; advocacy; legal
requirements; processing of information and reports; provision of
information for the organisation and social service users; quality
assurance; referrals; research; security of, and access to personal
and official information; supervision.
Evidence is required of four purposes.
Range
3.3
The description outlines the record keeping system of one service provider in
terms of how incidents are recorded.
Outcome 4
Prepare a report on an incident in mental health support work.
Evidence requirements
4.1
The report covers the details of the incident and the mental health support
worker's response to the incident.
4.2
The report is prepared in accordance with criteria established by legislation,
code of conduct, and service provider guidelines.
4.3
The report is referred to the supervisor in accordance with criteria established
by legislation, code of conduct, and service provider guidelines.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
26 October 2005
31 December 2014
Review
2
18 March 2011
31 December 2014
Rollover
3
17 November 2011
31 December 2014
Republished
3
13 March 2012
31 December 2014
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
21927 version 4
Page 5 of 5
Process
Version
Date
Last Date for Assessment
Rollover
4
24 October 2014
31 December 2016
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0150
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Community Support Services ITO Limited
SSB Code 101814
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016