18152
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Recognise, respond to, and report
suicide risk factors and signs of
distress in a person
level:
4
credit:
6
planned review date:
February 2003
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe
suicide risk factors and signs of distress that indicate that a
person may be at risk of suicide; recognise suicide risk
factors and signs of distress in a person; respond to a
person with suicide risk factors and signs of distress; record
and report on suicide risk factors and signs of distress in a
person; and make a referral of a person with suicide risk
factors and signs of distress.
entry information:
Prerequisites: National Certificate in Iwi/Maori Social
Services (Level 4) [Ref: 0666], or National Certificate in
Pacific Island Social Services (Level 4) [Ref: 0763], or
National Certificate in Social Services (Level 4) [Ref: 0250],
or National Certificate in Youth Work (Level 4) [Ref: 0669];
and Unit 7963, Contribute to the empowerment of people
experiencing oppression and marginalisation where
candidates have not been awarded that unit standard as part
of one of the preceding qualifications; or demonstrate
equivalent knowledge and skills.
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).
special notes:
1
People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to
demonstrate knowledge of te tino rangatiratanga and
kāwanatanga of the Treaty of Waitangi, and are able to
demonstrate knowledge of how to apply the articles of
the Treaty of Waitangi to social services. They are able
to apply this knowledge to the context of assessment
for this unit standard (for further clarification, please
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Recognise, respond to, and report
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distress in a person
refer to Unit 7927, Demonstrate knowledge of the
application of the Treaty of Waitangi in the social
services).
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
It is acknowledged that "Suicide risk assessment is
based on the (social service worker's) identification of
risk factors and on subjective intuition. The (social
service worker) needs to attend to her/his intuition as
well as objective responses when determining if, and
the degree to which, a person is at risk of suicide."
Ministry of Health and National Health Committee.
(1998) Young People at Risk of Suicide: A Guide for
Schools.
Wellington: Ministry of Education: p.14.
Assessment of candidates for award of this unit
standard will also need to acknowledge the significance
of intuitive judgement in the assessment process.
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Recognise, respond to, and report
suicide risk factors and signs of
distress in a person
4
Person refers to a person who may be at risk of
suicide. Participants may include but are not limited to:
the person who may be at risk of suicide, her/his family
or whānau, peers, informants, other professionals.
5
Needs may include but are not limited to: needs to be
believed, affirmed, and supported; needs for physical
comfort, privacy, respect, safety, security; need to be in
a family or whānau, or safe collective group.
6
Characteristics may include but are not limited to:
physical, spiritual, and mental characteristics, including
age; language; stage of development; culture;
disability; financial status; gender; health status;
language; sexual identity; religion; cultural status.
7
Other professionals may include but are not limited to:
counsellors, cultural specialists, resource people,
health professionals, other specialist assessors, as
relevant to the context of assessment.
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Recognise, respond to, and report
suicide risk factors and signs of
distress in a person
8
All communications are treated confidentially, except
where there is an ethical, legal, or organisational duty
on the social service worker to report suicide risk. The
scope and limits of confidentiality are defined through
negotiation with and informed consent of participants,
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: the Official
Information Act 1982, Privacy Act 1993, agency 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.
9
Social service worker is used as a term to refer to the
person seeking award of credit in this unit standard.
Social service worker may include but is not limited to:
community worker, counsellor, kaiāwhina, social
worker, kaitautoko, youth worker, and others who
deliver social services, whether paid or unpaid.
10
In carrying out all elements of this unit standard,
actions are documented according to enterprise
standards. Enterprise standards include but are not
limited to: service provider strategic plans, kaupapa,
governing legislation, staff manuals, service provider
protocols.
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Recognise, respond to, and report
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11
Resources related to suicide intervention include but
are not limited to:
a
Coggan, Carolyn; Dickinson, Pauline; Rimm,
Michael; Cherrington, Jane. 1999. A Practical
Guide to Coping With Suicide. Auckland: Mental
Health Foundation.
b
Ellis, Pete M.; Collings, Sunny C. D.; Eds.
October 1997. Mental Health in New Zealand
from a Public Health Perspective. Wellington:
Public Health Group, Ministry of Health.
c
Joseph, Paul (Ati Hau). 1997. Māori Youth
Suicide in Aotearoa: Selected Interviews with
Māori Elders.
Auckland: The University of
Auckland: Iri Masters Thesis Series Number 10.
d
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth Affairs, and
Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development.
1999. In Our Hands: New Zealand Youth Suicide
Prevention Strategy - Kia Piki Te Ora o Te
Tamariki:
Strengthening
Youth
Wellbeing.
Wellington: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Youth
Affairs, and Te Puni Kōkiri.
e
Ministry of Health and National Health Committee.
1998. Young People at Risk of Suicide: A Guide
for Schools. Wellington: Ministry of Education.
f
Royal New Zealand College of General
Practitioners and Ministry of Youth Affairs. 1999.
Guidelines for Primary Care Providers: Detection
and Management of Young People at Risk of
Suicide. Wellington: Royal New Zealand College
of General Practitioners and Ministry of Youth
Affairs.
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Recognise, respond to, and report
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g
h
Royal New Zealand College of General
Practitioners and Ministry of Youth Affairs. 1999.
A Quick Reference for Primary Care Providers:
Detection & Management of Young People at Risk
of Suicide.
Wellington: Royal New Zealand
College of General Practitioners and Ministry of
Youth Affairs.
Smith, Don; Beautrais, Annette. December 1999.
"Identifying young people at risk of suicide".
Social Work Now 14:23-34.
Please note that at the time of registration, there were
no specific resources recommended related to suicide
intervention with older persons.
12
It is a principle of safe practice in working with suicide
intervention that social service workers at all levels of
competence participate in professional supervision
(sometimes referred to as clinical supervision). People
awarded credit in this unit standard demonstrate
consistent use of professional supervision as part of
safe practice.
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Recognise, respond to, and report
suicide risk factors and signs of
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Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Describe suicide risk factors and signs of distress that indicate that a person may be at
risk of suicide.
performance criteria
1.1
Description identifies suicide risk factors and signs of distress in terms of the
resources in special note 11.
Range:
1.2
seven suicide risk factors and/or signs of distress identified from
any two of the resources.
Description identifies ways that signs of distress are expressed within the
context of a person's culture.
Range:
person's culture - Māori, one Tauiwi culture.
element 2
Recognise suicide risk factors and signs of distress in a person.
performance criteria
2.1
Suicide risk factors and signs of distress in a person are recognised in terms of
the definition of suicide risk factors and signs of distress in one of the resources
in special note 11.
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Recognise, respond to, and report
suicide risk factors and signs of
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2.2
Suicide risk factors and signs of distress in a person are recognised in terms of
indicators, signs, and disclosures.
Range:
indicators, signs, and disclosures may include but are not limited
to - behavioural signs; cultural signs; emotional signs; family
signs; physical signs; situational signs; disclosures by the person;
suicide plan; information or comments from ministers of religion,
elders, leaders, family or whānau, peers; information from other
professionals.
element 3
Respond to a person with suicide risk factors and signs of distress.
performance criteria
3.1
Responses are in terms of the safety of the person as being the first and
paramount consideration.
3.2
Responses positively acknowledge the needs of the person.
3.3
Responses positively acknowledge the needs of the family or whānau and other
supporters.
3.4
Responses acknowledge the characteristics of the person.
3.5
Responses acknowledge the characteristics of the family or whānau and other
supporters.
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Recognise, respond to, and report
suicide risk factors and signs of
distress in a person
3.6
Responses are made using interpersonal skills and language that respond to
verbal and non verbal communications including body language.
Range:
interpersonal skills may include but are not limited to - active
listening skills; use of voice tone and language; recognition of
body language.
3.7
Responses seek sufficient information for recognition of suicide risk factors and
signs of distress, and initiating safety procedures for the person.
3.8
Responses provide participants with sufficient information to enable them to
access community support networks and services.
element 4
Record and report on suicide risk factors and signs of distress in a person.
performance criteria
4.1
Records of all information relevant to the person including recognised suicide
risk factors and signs of distress are prepared and stored.
Range:
information relevant to the person including recognised suicide
risk factors and signs of distress may include but is not limited to behavioural signs; cultural signs; emotional signs; family signs;
physical signs; situational signs; disclosures by the person;
suicide plan; information or comments from ministers of religion,
elders, leaders, family or whānau, peers; information from other
professionals.
Evidence is required of three items of relevant information.
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
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Recognise, respond to, and report
suicide risk factors and signs of
distress in a person
4.2
Records are prepared and stored in accordance with criteria established by
legislation, ethical practice, and service provider guidelines.
4.3
Records are referred on and reported in accordance with criteria established by
legislation, ethical practice, and service provider guidelines.
element 5
Make a referral of a person with suicide risk factors and signs of distress.
performance criteria
5.1
The referral process is based upon relevant criteria.
Range:
5.2
The referral process identifies relevant issues for future involvement of the
social service worker or social service provider.
Range:
5.3
relevant criteria - observation of the situation; safety of the person
who may be at risk of suicide as the first and paramount
consideration; suicide risk factors; abilities and means of
participants; available resources; input from other professionals;
enterprise standards.
relevant issues - factors that may lead to resumption of contact;
future roles, functions, and services available from the social
service worker or social service provider; means of re-establishing
contact with the social service worker or social service provider;
other sources of referral.
The referral process is effected according to the established kawa and tikanga.
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INTERVENTION
Recognise, respond to, and report
suicide risk factors and signs of
distress in a person
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