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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN SUICIDE
INTERVENTION
Manage risk of suicide with a person
level:
6
credit:
9
planned review date:
February 2003
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to: establish
an environment for managing risk of suicide with a person;
provide intervention for managing risk of suicide with a
person; consult and refer in suicide risk management; and
monitor and follow up in suicide risk management.
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.
entry information:
Candidates for this unit standard will have completed the
National Diploma in Social Services with strands in
Community Work, Counselling and Social Work (Level 6)
[Ref: 0251], the National Diploma in Iwi/Māori Social
Services (Level 6) [Ref: 0667], or the National Diploma in
Youth Work (Level 6) [Ref: 0670]; or will have completed an
equivalent professional social service qualification; or
demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
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
implement Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the social services
according to the authority and resources available to
them, and are able to demonstrate application of this
competence to the context of assessment for this unit
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standard (for further clarification, please refer to Unit
7928, Demonstrate knowledge of 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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4
Best practice in management of suicide risk with a
person who is of a different culture from that of the
candidate may require understanding of cultural
concepts of a depth beyond that required by this unit
standard. People awarded credit in this unit standard
may demonstrate their competence by identifying the
limits of their cultural knowledge, and accessing a
cultural specialist to assist in the assessment.
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
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.
8
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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9
Agreement with the person or other significant people
reflects the desirability of the social service worker first
attempting to achieve agreement with the person and
her/his family or whānau on any strategies 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
person's family/whānau; and secondly, health and
social service workers, kaumātua, ministers of religion,
peers, police officers, solicitors, teachers, and others
who have current knowledge about the person and
their situation.
10
Available resources may include but are not limited to
resources available to the person from: the social
service worker; the social service provider; Iwi/Māori
social services; Pacific Island social services; other
social services; community groups; the person's family
or whānau; church; the person's own resources.
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11
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.
12
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.
13
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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14
Immediate intervention strategies, consultation and
referral strategies, and monitoring and follow up
strategies are not defined by this unit standard.
Strategies for each component of managing suicide risk
are proposed in the resources outlined in special note
15; in particular the resources listed as a, b, and d-g.
Other strategies will be determined by the system
context of the person perceived to be at risk of suicide.
Strategies must be based upon a team approach and
include professional supervision for the social service
worker. Strategies are based upon an action plan
agreed with the person or other significant people.
15
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
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.
c
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.
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d
e
f
g
Ministry of Health and National Health Committee.
1998. Young People at Risk of Suicide: A Guide
for Schools. Wellington: Ministry of Education.
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.
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.
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16
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.
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Establish an environment for managing risk of suicide with a person.
performance criteria
1.1
Cultural concepts used to begin managing risk of suicide with a person are
appropriate to the participants.
Range:
1.2
Māori - mihi, karakia, manaakitanga, te Reo, tikanga,
whānaungatanga, āhuatanga;
Tauiwi - cultural concepts from one selected Tauiwi culture which
may include but are not limited to - greetings, welcome,
compassion, openness, support, warmth.
The environment that is established for managing risk of suicide with a person
attends to the characteristics and needs of the participants.
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1.3
Kawa or protocols for managing risk of suicide with a person are established
and sustained with the participants.
1.4
The participants are engaged in managing risk of suicide according to their
characteristics and needs, and in accordance with the social service worker's
role, function, and any legal responsibilities.
element 2
Provide intervention for managing risk of suicide with a person.
performance criteria
2.1
Intervention is in terms of establishing the safety of the person who may be at
risk of suicide as the first and paramount consideration.
2.2
Intervention strategies are selected and implemented according to the extent of
the perceived risk of suicide.
Range:
2.3
extent of the perceived risk of suicide may include any point on a
continuum from low risk to moderate risk to high risk.
Intervention strategies are selected and implemented according to the wider
context of the person at risk of suicide and agreement with the person or other
significant people.
Range:
wider context may include but is not limited to - family or whānau;
wider kinship; peer group; community and social systems.
Evidence is required in relation to two contexts relevant to the
person.
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2.4
Intervention is directed towards reducing the extent of the perceived risk of
suicide.
element 3
Consult and refer in suicide risk management.
performance criteria
3.1
Consultation and referral is in terms of establishing the safety of the person
who may be at risk of suicide as the first and paramount consideration.
3.2
Consultation and referral strategies are selected and implemented according to
the extent of the perceived risk of suicide.
Range:
3.3
extent of the perceived risk of suicide may include any point on a
continuum from low risk to moderate risk to high risk.
Consultation and referral strategies include strategies to manage underlying
factors that may contribute to suicide risk.
Range:
underlying factors that may contribute to suicide risk may include
but are not limited to - underlying mental disorders; ongoing or
specific life difficulties; family or whānau issues, alcohol or drug
issues, relationship issues, sexual identity.
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3.4
Consultation and referral strategies are selected and implemented according to
the wider context of the person at risk of suicide and in agreement with the
person or other significant people.
Range:
3.5
wider context may include but is not limited to - family or whānau;
wider kinship context; peer group; community and social systems.
Evidence is required in relation to two contexts relevant to the
person.
Consultation and referral strategies are directed towards ensuring safe practice
and reducing the extent of the perceived risk of suicide.
element 4
Monitor and follow up in suicide risk management.
performance criteria
4.1
Monitoring and follow up are in terms of establishing the safety of the person
who may be at risk of suicide as the first and paramount consideration.
4.2
Monitoring and follow up strategies are selected and implemented according to
the extent of the perceived risk of suicide.
Range:
extent of the perceived risk of suicide may include any point on a
continuum from low risk to moderate risk to high risk.
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4.3
Monitoring and follow up strategies are selected and implemented according to
the underlying factors that may contribute to suicide risk.
Range:
4.4
underlying factors that may contribute to suicide risk may include
but are not limited to - underlying mental disorders, underlying
problems, ongoing life difficulties, family or whānau issues,
alcohol or drug issues.
Monitoring and follow up strategies are selected and implemented according to
the wider context of the person at risk of suicide and agreement with the person
or other significant people.
Range:
wider context may include but is not limited to - family or whānau;
wider kinship context; peer group; community and social systems.
Evidence is required in relation to two contexts relevant to the
person.
4.5
Monitoring and follow up strategies include checking that referrals have been
received and addressed by the professional(s) to whom referrals have been
made.
4.6
Monitoring and follow up strategies plan for ongoing contact with the person to
monitor changes in suicide risk.
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4.7
Lack of improvement or fluctuation in the person's suicide risk is responded to
with strategies that are consistent with an increased level of suicide risk.
Range:
lack of improvement or fluctuation in the person's suicide risk –
the time scale for deciding there is a lack of improvement and
hence an increased level of suicide risk will vary according to the
context, and will be based upon best practice according to the
resources listed in special note 15.
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