18157
28-Jun-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate self awareness related to
suicide intervention
level:
4
credit:
6
planned review date:
February 2003
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe
own cultural perspectives and life experience related to
suicide, and demonstrate awareness of the outcomes of own
personal history for working with suicide situations.
entry information:
Prerequisite: Unit 7917, Demonstrate self awareness in
relation to social services work, or demonstrate equivalent
knowledge and skills. Candidates should refer to the
recommendation in the purpose statement.
This unit standard is intended for people who wish to
upgrade their existing social service knowledge and skills for
working in suicide intervention.
It pre-supposes that
candidates have existing competence in social service
knowledge and skills at a level equivalent to or higher than
that of this unit standard. It is recommended that only
people with that level of competence attempt this unit
standard.
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).
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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Demonstrate self awareness related to
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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
refer to Unit 7927, Demonstrate knowledge of the
application of the Treaty of Waitangi in the social
services).
2
It is recommended that this unit standard be assessed
in conjunction with assessment for other unit standards
in this domain. Ideally, candidates should be assessed
on the basis of evidence gathered whilst they are
completing all of the unit standards in a programme
leading to either of the proposed national certificates in
suicide intervention where this unit standard is a
compulsory unit standard. Self awareness may be
demonstrated through performance in the work place,
which may include field education placements.
3
Self awareness is defined as awareness by the social
service worker of her/his personal beliefs, feelings,
values, practices, and boundaries in relation to her/his
work, work colleagues, and relationships.
4
Culture may include but is not limited to: cultures based
upon age, class, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual
identity, cultures within Māori, Pakeha, Pacific Islands,
and Asian groupings; including identification with a
culture through birth; adoption; or genealogy or
whakapapa.
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Demonstrate self awareness related to
suicide intervention
5
Participants in suicide situations may include but are
not limited to: people who may be at risk of suicide,
their families or whānau, peers, other professionals.
6
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.
7
This unit standard may require some disclosure of
personal information. All communications with people
preparing for award of this unit standard are treated
confidentially by assessors. The scope and limits of
confidentiality are defined through negotiation and
informed consent, the assessment agreement, and
criteria established by legislation, code of conduct, and
service provider guidelines. In the context of this unit
standard, sources of criteria established by legislation,
code of conduct, and service provider guidelines
include but are not limited to: the Official Information
Act 1982, Privacy Act 1993, service provider codes of
conduct, codes of practice issued by the Privacy
Commissioner, and service provider guidelines,
protocols, staff manuals, kawa, or tikanga.
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
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Demonstrate self awareness related to
suicide intervention
8
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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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
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Demonstrate self awareness related to
suicide intervention
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.
9
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.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Demonstrate self awareness related to
suicide intervention
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Describe own cultural perspectives and life experience related to suicide.
performance criteria
1.1
Description identifies the perspectives of the social service worker's own culture
related to suicide.
Range:
1.2
evidence is required related to at least one culture incorporating
any combination of aspects of special note 4;
perspectives of the social service worker's own culture related to
suicide may include but are not limited to - spiritual perspectives,
religious perspectives, historical perspectives, current social
perspectives, cultural values related to suicide, voluntary
euthanasia, sanctity of life;
evidence is required of four perspectives of the social service
worker's own culture.
Description identifies aspects of the social service worker's own life experience
related to suicide.
Range:
aspects of the social service worker's own life experience related
to suicide may include but are not limited to - personal experience
of loss and grief; family or whānau history and experiences of
suicide; community involvement with suicide; socio-cultural,
kinship, and religious influences related to suicide; education and
training; work experience related to suicide; mental health history
related to suicide or other self harm.
Evidence is required of two relevant aspects.
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Demonstrate self awareness related to
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element 2
Demonstrate awareness of the outcomes of own personal history for working with suicide
situations.
Range:
personal history - social service worker's cultural perspectives and life
experience related to suicide.
performance criteria
2.1
Demonstration of awareness identifies the impact on the social service worker
of her/his personal history.
Range:
2.2
Demonstration of awareness identifies the impact of the social service worker's
personal history on her/his personal philosophy for working in suicide
intervention.
Range:
2.3
impact - beliefs, feelings, relationships, values;
evidence is required of one impact for each item in the range.
personal philosophy for working with suicide situations may
include but is not limited to - reasons for chosen field of work;
vision and goals for working in suicide intervention.
Demonstration of awareness identifies outcomes of the social service worker's
personal history in terms of influences on relationships with participants in
situations of suicide risk and completed suicide.
Range:
influences on relationships with participants in situations of suicide
risk and completed suicide - feelings; values; personal and
professional boundaries.
Evidence is required of one outcome for each item in the range.
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
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Demonstrate self awareness related to
suicide intervention
2.4
Demonstration of awareness identifies outcomes of the social service worker's
personal history in terms of risk to self and participants.
Range:
2.5
risk to self and participants - no identifiable risks, potential risks.
Demonstration of awareness matches the potential risks to self and participants
with risk management strategies.
Range:
risk management strategies may include but are not limited to education and training, membership of a reference group,
personal counselling, supervision;
reference group - professional association, peer group, co-worker
group, collective, governing body or board, whānau, hapu, iwi,
kaumātua, spiritual group, trustees;
evidence is required of two strategies for managing risks to self,
and two strategies for managing risks to participants.
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