CHCMHS001 - Work with People with Mental Health Issues
Overview
This unit focuses on working effectively with clients with mental health issues. It applies to counsellors and other community service workers who, while not working in the mental health sector, come into contact with individuals with mental health issues during their work in the wider community services sector.
Trigger warning
This module may include content that deals with sensitive and emotionally challenging topics. Some of the topics covered in this course may include trauma, abuse, addiction, mental health issues, and relationship difficulties. These topics may evoke strong emotions, memories, or reactions in some learners. It is important to prioritise your own self-care and seek support as needed.
If you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed, please do not hesitate to reach out to your trainer, student services or a mental health professional for support. The following services may be helpful:
Introduction
Unit overview and outcomes - CHCMHS001 Work with People with Mental Health Issues
SECTION 1: Key Considerations in Establishing Respectful Relationships
In this section of the module, you will learn about some of the key principles and practices of working with clients with mental health issues and the importance of establishing respectful relationships. You will also learn how to effectively communicate and work with people who have mental health issues in a manner that maintains respect, prioritises the individual’s right to self-define their own recovery, and promotes the individual’s rights.
SECTION 2: Determining Needs and Preferences
This section of the module explores how to gather and interpret information about a person’s needs and discuss services and strategies that support the recovery process. You will learn how to appropriately support and empower the individual to identify their preferences and assist them in accessing appropriate services.
SECTION 3: Working with People with Mental Health Issues
In this section of the module, you will learn how to work collaboratively with the client, their support network, and other service providers in order to best meet the needs of a client with mental health issues.
Unit Title
CHCMHS001 – Work with people with mental health issues
Unit Purpose
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish relationships, clarify needs, and then work collaboratively with people who are living with mental health issues.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this unit.
Resources/Readings
Readings A –F are located at the end of this module.
Suggested Hours
Although everyone will work at their own pace, we suggest you allow approximately 100 hours to complete this unit competently, including seminars, tutorials, assignments and practical activities.
Time Frame
The recommended time frame for this unit is 4 weeks.
Assessment
This unit will be assessed by completing the CHCMHS001 Assessments.
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
| Element | Performance Criteria |
|---|---|
| 1. Establish respectful relationships with people with mental health issues |
1.1 Communicate in a way that develops and maintains respect, hope, trust and self-direction 1.2 Work in a way that reflects and prioritises the person’s right to self-define and direct their own recovery 1.3 Recognise and respect the person’s social, cultural and spiritual differences 1.4 Support the person to understand and exercise their rights 1.5 Maintain confidentiality and privacy of the person within organisation policy and protocols |
| 2. Determine the needs of people with mental health issues |
2.1 Gather and interpret information about the person’s needs from the person and other agreed sources 2.2 Identify and discuss with the person services and strategies that support empowerment and recovery 2.3 Support the person to express their own identity and preferences and avoid imposing own values and attitudes 2.4 Identify duty of care and dignity of risk considerations in collaboration with the person |
| 3. Work with people with mental health issues to meet aspirations and needs |
3.1 Provide support that facilitates progress towards the person’s goals in collaboration with the person and their care network 3.2 Work in ways that uphold the person’s rights 3.3 Adapt service delivery within organisation policies and procedures to meet the person’s specific needs and requirements 3.4 Document interactions and services according to organisation policy and procedures 3.5 Respond promptly and supportively to people experiencing distress or crisis 3.6 Work within the limits of own knowledge, abilities and work role and make referrals to other services as indicated by the person’s needs |
Knowledge Evidence
The candidate must be able to demonstrate the essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
- Legal and ethical considerations (international, national, state/territory, local) when working with people with mental health issues, and how these are applied in organisations and individual practice:
- Children in the workplace
- Codes of practice
- Discrimination
- Dignity of risk
- Duty of care
- Human rights
- Informed consent
- Mandatory reporting
- Privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
- Policy frameworks
- Records management
- Rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and individuals
- Specific mental health legislation – impact on individual workers and consequences of breaches
- Work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations
- Work health and safety
- Values and principles of the mental health sector, including:
- Recovery
- Recovery-oriented practice
- Health promotion and prevention
- Holistic approach
- Empowerment/disempowerment
- Access and equity
- Early intervention
- Rights
- Social justice and inclusion
- Citizenship
- Different contexts of mental health work, including:
- Historical context, changing attitudes to mental health and approaches to working with people with mental health issues
- Social context, changing societal views of mental health and approaches to working with people
- Political context, government policies and initiatives affecting the mental health sector
- Economic context, the current economic situation as it relates to and affects the mental health sector and the subsequent impact on people
- Impact of own attitudes on working with people with mental health issues
- Key issues facing people with mental health illnesses, including the impact of prejudice and discrimination
- Myths and facts about mental illness
- Types of mental illness
- Existing services to address a person’s needs and rights
- Appropriate responses to changes in mental health, mental distress and crisis
- Circumstances in which referral to a health or other professional is appropriate
Performance Evidence
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
- Worked with at least 3 people with mental health issues in ways that support individual empowerment and recovery through:
- Use of communication techniques
- Provision and adaptation of services to meet particular needs
