13088 version 3
15-Feb-16
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MANAGE SOCIAL SERVICES
Manage risks in a social service
provider setting
level:
6
credit:
9
planned review date:
June 2006
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
This unit standard has been developed primarily for social
service workers, but it is also available to those in the
community who have similar responsibilities. It is intended
for those who have or seek responsibility for risk
management at an organisational level in the social services.
It is also intended for those in the social services who make
or contribute to risk management decisions and/or
commission or brief risk management experts and evaluate
their recommendations or findings.
People credited with this unit standard are able to identify
and assess risks within the context of the social service
provider, and establish and monitor risk management
policies and procedures for the social service provider.
entry information:
Open.
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).
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
13088 version 3
15-Feb-16
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MANAGE SOCIAL SERVICES
Manage risks in a social service
provider setting
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
standard (for further clarification, please refer to Unit
7928, Implement Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the social
services).
2
Glossary
"Risk is the possibility that positive expectations of a
goal-oriented system will not be realised."
Reference - Crockford, N. 1991. Risk Management.
London: Witherby: p. 3.
Risk analysis is a systematic use of available
information to identify the risks to which the
organisation is exposed, estimate loss probabilities and
severities, and evaluate impact on the organisation.
Risk Management is the "identification, measurement,
control and financing of risks which threaten the
existence, the assets, the earnings or the personnel of
an organisation, or the services it provides". Risk
management includes policies, procedures, and
standards of protection to accept, avoid, reduce, or
transfer identified risks.
Reference - Crockford, op cit. p 5.
Safety mechanisms include but are not limited to:
protocols and procedures for: risk management,
occupational safety and health, confidentiality,
management of staff interactions and relationships with
social service clients, and management of social
service client interactions and relationships with the
staff and with each other.
3
This unit standard may be assessed on the basis of
evidence of demonstrated performance in the
workplace or in simulated work situations designed to
draw upon similar performance to that required in
workplace settings.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
13088 version 3
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MANAGE SOCIAL SERVICES
Manage risks in a social service
provider setting
4
People awarded credit in this unit standard show that
their actions are guided and supported by valid theory
for social service practice. Evidence is required of
social service theory that is derived from authoritative
sources, which may include but are not limited to: body
of knowledge related to social service work; cultural
theory; practice research.
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Identify and assess risks within the context of the social service provider.
Range:
context must include but is not limited to - the social service provider's kaupapa,
current and prospective operations and plans, the financial and physical
environment in which it operates.
performance criteria
1.1
Analysis identifies potential risks, including possible sources of risk and areas of
impact.
Range:
1.2
sources of risk may include but are not limited to - commercial and
legal relations, competition, environmental events and natural
dangers, human behaviour, loss of funding support, loss of
partners, personnel changes, political circumstances, computer
and other technology;
areas of impact may include but are not limited to - asset and
resource base, costs, people, community, environment,
contractual risks, property damage, security, health, legal and
professional liability, loss of goodwill and reputation, loss of
stakeholder support.
Evidence is required for one source of risk and its areas of impact.
Risk levels are assessed as acceptable or unacceptable and balanced against
beneficial opportunities afforded by taking the risk within the context of the
provider.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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MANAGE SOCIAL SERVICES
Manage risks in a social service
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element 2
Establish and monitor risk management policies and procedures for the social service
provider.
performance criteria
2.1
Risk management policy formation is consistent with the provider's kaupapa,
goals, objectives, and the strategies in place to achieve them.
2.2
Risk management policy formation focuses on establishing policies,
procedures, and standards of protection for acceptance, avoidance, reduction,
and transfer of identified risks.
2.3
Risk management strategies and systems are designed to reduce opportunities
for financial loss through persons or events and minimise any adverse impact.
Range:
opportunities for financial loss through persons may include but
are not limited to - theft, fraud, improper application of funds, cash
arrangements, computer fraud, credit risks, contractual risks;
opportunities for financial loss through events may include but are
not limited to – product failure, market failure, exposure to bad
debts, adverse economic events;
risk management strategies and systems may include but are not
limited to - financial controls, internal and external audits, security
systems, fraud control planning, credit control, investment
planning.
Evidence is required of two different opportunities for financial
loss, one through persons and one through events, with
recommended risk management strategies.
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2.4
Risk management strategies and systems are designed to reduce opportunities
for physical loss through persons or events and minimise any adverse impact.
Range:
2.5
opportunities for physical loss through persons may include but
are not limited to - burglary, theft of property or information,
malicious damage, sabotage, arson;
opportunities for physical loss through events may include but are
not limited to - fire, flood, earthquake, accidental explosion,
contamination, vermin, pollution, equipment breakdown;
risk management strategies and systems may include but are not
limited to - contingency planning, security systems, inspection and
process controls, quality assurance, preventative maintenance,
engineering and structural barriers, physical protection systems,
disaster recovery plans, incident reporting systems.
Evidence is required of two different opportunities for physical
loss, one through persons and one through events, with
recommended risk management strategies.
Strategies to transfer the financial responsibility or burden of financial or
physical loss to another party through insurance, contract, or other means are
justified by the balance of benefits to costs.
Range:
risk transfer may include but is not limited to - contractual
indemnity against loss or damage, insurance against specified
risks, self insurance plans.
Evidence is required with justification for selection of one risk
transfer strategy to manage one selected opportunity for financial
loss, and one risk transfer strategy to manage one selected
opportunity for physical loss.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
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MANAGE SOCIAL SERVICES
Manage risks in a social service
provider setting
2.6
Risk management strategies and systems are designed to reduce opportunities
for losses resulting from other risks and minimise any adverse impact.
Range:
other risks may include but are not limited to - occupational health
and safety risks, unethical staff behaviour with social service
clients, sexual harassment, violence to staff, risks to clients of the
social service organisation and people affected by social service
clients;
risk management strategies and systems may include but are not
limited to - social service client and staff grievance procedures,
education and training for staff, professional supervision, staff
membership of professional bodies, professional insurance,
occupational health and safety strategies, security systems,
incident reporting systems, organisational protocols and safety
mechanisms.
Evidence is required of one opportunity for other losses, with
recommended risk management strategies.
2.7
Risk management plans developed in consultation with persons involved and
with external specialists provide optimal protection against risks to the social
service provider, staff, and social service clients.
2.8
Monitoring of risk management plans and systems is allocated to those best
able to handle specific risks in order to ensure effectiveness.
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