Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

None.

Competencies covered

Competency: CHCAOD004 Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues
Element: 1. Prepare for assessment	1.1 Review existing information about the client and consult with relevant health or community services professionals based on client needs
	1.2 Discuss with the client reasons for seeking help and other information that may assist in establishing a basis for further work
	1.3 Explain organisation parameters of confidentiality and policy/procedures to client
	1.4 Inform the client of the assessment purpose and process
	1.5 Confirm client’s understanding of the purpose and process of assessment
Element: 2. Conduct assessment	2.1 Identify history and pattern of client’s drug use through client discussion and questioning
	2.2 Identify and clarify co-existing issues in consultation with the client
	2.3 Identify the clients key familial and social relationships and how they are impacted by their AOD use
	2.4 Assess current status, patterns of use and levels of dependence using standardised or approved AOD screening and assessment tools
	2.5 Collaborate with other health processionals as indicated by assessment
	2.6 Identify indicators of other issues that may affect work with the client through observation and questioning
Element: 3. Record assessment and provide feedback	3.1 Accurately record assessment results according to defined guidelines
	3.2 Apply organisation criteria to determine entry to, or exclusion from, services
	3.3 Prepare clear and comprehensive client assessment report
	3.4 Provide feedback to the client based on assessment report
Element: 4. Identify and respond to need for referral	4.1 Identify client issues that are outside the scope of the service and/or the scope of the worker
	4.2 Identify appropriate service and other support options for the client and their family members
	4.3 Inform the client of possible options and reasons for seeking other service and support options
	4.4 Confirm the client’s understanding of options
	4.5 Work with the client to determine referral options and responsibilities
	4.6 Make referral with client consent
	4.7 Provide assessment information to others, including relevant health and/or community services professionals according to consent requirements

Unit Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and conduct assessments of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) clients to determine eligibility, service requirements and referral needs. This includes knowledge of factors affecting assessment for a range of different client groups including different genders, youth, older people, mandated and voluntary clients, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

This unit applies to people involved in the assessment of clients with AOD issues using established organisation or jurisdictional AOD assessment tools.

Topics

Legal and ethical considerations (international, national, state/territory, local) in AOD work, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice.
Requirements related to client registration, allocation and referral.
Context for the provision of services - agency role, agency target group and the impacts on the local community.
Risk assessment processes in relation to interventions for people with drug and/or alcohol and co-existing issues.
AOD assessment tools.
Client information required for assessment and the scope and depth of information needed.
Common co-existing conditions and associated issues relating to assessment of people with drug and/or alcohol issues.
Factors for consideration when working with different types of clients.
Considerations when working with clients at risk of self-harm, suicide or with mental health issues.
Professional responsibilities when presenting cases fall outside of practitioner’s current scope.
How to apply pharmacological factors to the assessment process.

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Unit offerings

Face to face: (Demand based)

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.