18298
28-Jun-16
1 of 11
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
level:
4
credit:
6
planned review date:
April 2005
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe
assessment of presenting issues in social service work with
abuse, neglect, and violence; establish an environment for
assessment of presenting issues in a situation of abuse,
neglect, or violence; gather information on presenting issues
in a situation of abuse, neglect, or violence; and assess the
information gathered on presenting issues in a situation of
abuse, neglect, or violence.
entry information:
Open.
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
18298
28-Jun-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
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
Glossary
Person(s) whose life or safety is affected by abuse,
neglect, or violence include children, young persons,
and adults (including elders).
They may have
experienced and/or be at risk of abuse, neglect, or
violence in any context, including that of their family or
whānau.
Abuse, neglect, and violence includes
abusive, neglectful, violent, or controlling behaviour that
may be economic, emotional, physical, social, verbal,
spiritual, and/or sexual in nature. It also includes role
abuse, which means the abuse of power by an
individual or agency that has a professional, service, or
status-based role in relation to survivors. People
awarded credit for this unit standard demonstrate
competence in one context, with any combination of the
above factors.
Participants may include but are not limited to:
person(s) whose life or safety is affected by abuse,
neglect, or violence; offenders; family or whānau.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18298
28-Jun-16
3 of 11
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
Characteristics and needs may be physical, spiritual,
cultural, and mental. Characteristics and needs include
age and stage of development; coping strategies;
family or whānau system and dynamics; culture;
disability; experience and knowledge; family or whānau
history; gender; health status; personal history;
language; psycho-social situation and systems; sexual
orientation;
socio-economic
situation;
religious
adherence; and needs for physical comfort, safety, and
privacy of participants.
Other professionals may include, but are not limited to,
care and protection resource people, legal advisers,
health advisers, other specialist assessors or advisers,
as relevant to the context of assessment.
Agreement with the participants and/or people of
significance to the participants reflects the desirability
of the social service worker first attempting to achieve
agreement with the participants and family or whānau
on accuracy of information and any processes 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
participant's family/whānau; and secondly, health and
social service workers, ministers of religion, police
officers, solicitors, and others who have current
knowledge about the participants and their situation.
Available resources may include but are not limited to
resources available to the participant from: the social
service worker; the social service provider; Iwi/Māori
social services; Pacific Island social services; other
social services; community groups; the participant's
family or whānau; church; the participant's own
resources.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18298
28-Jun-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
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 workers, counsellors, kaiāwhina, social
workers, kaitautoko, youth workers, and others who
deliver social services, whether paid or unpaid.
3
All communications are treated confidentially, except
where there is an ethical, legal, or organisational duty
on the social service worker to report abuse, neglect, or
violence. Participants are informed of the scope and
limits of confidentiality as defined by 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 Children, Young Persons and Their
Families Act 1989, Domestic Violence Act 1995 Section
43, Health Act 1956 Sections 22B and 22C, 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.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18298
28-Jun-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
4
Statutes relevant to this unit standard are the Children,
Young Persons and Their Families Act 1989, Domestic
Violence Act 1995, Domestic Violence (Programmes)
Regulations 1996, Guardianship Act 1968, Health Act
1956 Sections 22B and 22C, Official Information Act
1982, Privacy Act 1993. People awarded this unit
standard demonstrate knowledge of the provisions of
these statutes and criteria relating to the reporting of
abuse, neglect, and violence, and care and protection
measures, according to their relevance to the
assessment context.
5
Resources related to abuse and neglect of children and
young persons may include but are not limited to:
a
Children, Young Persons and Their Families
Service.
1998.
Breaking the cycle: an
interagency guide to child abuse. Wellington:
Children, Young Persons and Their Families
Service.
b
Risk Management Project, Children, Young
Persons and Their Families Service.
1997.
Recognition of child abuse and neglect: Tirohanga
tukino tamariki.
Wellington: Children, Young
Persons and Their Families Service.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18298
28-Jun-16
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SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
6
Resources related to the Domestic Violence Act 1995
and Domestic Violence (Programmes) Regulations
1996:
a
Department for Courts. July 1999. Individual
provider guidelines: for individuals wishing to
provide domestic violence programmes for adult
protected persons. Wellington: Department for
Courts.
b
Department for Courts. July 1999. Individual
provider guidelines: for individuals wishing to
provide domestic violence programmes for
children. Wellington: Department for Courts.
c
Department for Courts. July 1999. Individual
provider guidelines: for individuals wishing to
provide domestic violence programmes for
respondents. Wellington: Department for Courts.
7
Resources related to elder abuse and neglect - may
include but are not limited to:
a
Age Concern New Zealand. 1992. Promoting the
rights and well-being of older people and those
who care for them: a resource kit about elder
abuse and neglect. Wellington: Age Concern
New Zealand.
b
Age Concern New Zealand. 1999. Age Concern
elder abuse and neglect services: A report of
statistics and service developments covering the
three years from July 1996 to June 1999.
Wellington: Age Concern New Zealand.
c
Age Concern New Zealand. 1999 (2nd Ed).
Elder abuse and neglect: a handbook for those
working with older people.
Wellington: Age
Concern New Zealand.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18298
28-Jun-16
7 of 11
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
8
It is a principle of safe practice in working with abuse,
neglect, and violence 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
Describe assessment of presenting issues in social service work with abuse, neglect, and
violence.
performance criteria
1.1
Description of assessment of presenting issues in social service work with
abuse, neglect, and violence outlines its purpose, limits, and rationale.
1.2
Description outlines how assessment of presenting issues assists with
intervention, safety, and outcomes for participants.
1.3
Description of assessment of presenting issues outlines social, ethical, and
cultural factors.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18298
28-Jun-16
8 of 11
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
element 2
Establish an environment for assessment of presenting issues in a situation of abuse,
neglect, or violence.
performance criteria
2.1
The environment that is established for the assessment attends to the
characteristics and needs of the participants.
2.2
Cultural concepts used to begin the assessment are appropriate to the
participants and their family or whānau.
Range:
cultural concepts - Māori, one Tauiwi culture.
2.3
Kawa or protocols for the assessment are established and sustained with the
participants, and in accordance with the purpose of the assessment.
2.4
The participants are engaged in the assessment according to their
characteristics and needs, and in accordance with the social service worker's
role, function, and any legal responsibilities.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18298
28-Jun-16
9 of 11
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
element 3
Gather information on presenting issues in a situation of abuse, neglect, or violence.
Range:
information may be oral, written, or a combination of oral and written.
performance criteria
3.1
Information gathering uses interpersonal skills and language that respond to
verbal and non-verbal communications including body language.
Range:
attending, listening, following, clarifying, encouraging, questioning,
summarising.
3.2
Information gathered is accurate according to agreement with the participant(s)
and/or people of significance to the participant(s).
3.3
Information gathering is according to cultural protocols and criteria established
by legislation, ethical practice, and service provider guidelines.
element 4
Assess the information gathered on presenting issues in a situation of abuse, neglect, or
violence.
performance criteria
4.1
The assessment is in terms of establishing the safety of person(s) whose life or
safety is affected by abuse, neglect, or violence as the first and paramount
consideration.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18298
28-Jun-16
10 of 11
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
4.2
The assessment identifies presenting issues in a situation of abuse, neglect, or
violence.
Range:
presenting issues - safety of person(s) whose life or safety is
affected by abuse, neglect, or violence; risk to person(s) whose
life or safety is affected by abuse, neglect, or violence; participant
characteristics, needs, strengths, and means; signs of crisis and
distress.
4.3
The assessment is in accordance with the purpose for the assessment.
4.4
The assessment concludes with a plan for action in accordance with discussion
with the participants and/or people of significance to the participants.
4.5
The assessment, plan for action, and recording of the assessment are in
accordance with cultural protocols and criteria established by legislation, ethical
practice, and service provider guidelines.
4.6
Completion of the assessment is effected according to the established kawa
and tikanga.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
18298
28-Jun-16
11 of 11
SOCIAL SERVICE WORK WITH ABUSE,
NEGLECT, AND VIOLENCE
Assess presenting issues in situations
of abuse, neglect, or violence
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