CHCYTH004 Respond to critical situations Assignment

Activity 1

1. Why is it necessary to have a framework for dealing with potential crisis situations?

2. You are dealing with a client called Annie. She is acting strangely and you think she might have taken drugs. Your organisation does not have the resources required to deal with clients with substance abuse problems. How would you deal with this crisis situation?

3. Identify a potential crisis situation, for example a client threatening to commit suicide or client who is threatening to physically harm workers, and create a framework for dealing with that crisis situation (eg the steps that workers should take should that crisis situation arise).

Activity 2

1. Why is it necessary to carry out timely risk assessments?

2. Outline how you would undertake a timely risk assessment of potential crisis situation where the client might be suicidal, with due consideration for the safety of young people and others. You will need to conduct your own research to complete this activity. Information relating to risk assessments of suicidal clients can be found online and from resources provided by mental health organisations.

Activity 3

1. Why might the establishment of relationships with other service providers be seen as a strategy to minimise risk to clients?

2. Select one of the government assistance programs listed and identify and assess how access to them might minimise risk to the client.
3. Youth Allowance.
4. Rent Assistance.
5. Health Care Card.
6. Unemployment benefit.
7. Child Support.
8. Austudy/ Abstudy.
9. Living away from home allowance.
10. Disability pensions.

Activity 4

1. What should be taken into consideration when identifying risks?

2. What are five of the possible causes of risk to young people?

3. Why should written reports be submitted after a critical incident has occurred? Provide at least five reasons.

Activity 5

1. From whom might you request assistance when dealing with crisis situation?

2. When should you request assistance?

3. How can you request assistance?

Activity 6

1. Why are procedures needed to ensure the physical safety of young people and staff in the event of an emergency?

2. What indicators might suggest that the emotional safety of young person might be at risk of abuse? Provide at least ten examples.

3. A young person who is a client of the organisation you work for comes to the premises and threatens staff and other clients with a gun. Identify the procedures you would implement to maximise the safety of all people present.

Activity 7

1. What is harm minimisation?

2. What are three strategies that can be used to minimise the potential for harm?

3. It has been stated that if the worker is not in the best mind frame to be able to cope with crisis situations, it is possible that they may make poor judgements which may cause potential for harm to the client. What would you do to ensure that, as far as possible, you were always ready to minimise harm?

Activity 8

1. Why is it important to ensure that all legislative and ethical requirements are met by self and those who supervise?

2. How do the ethical responsibilities of workers differ to that of supervisors or managers?

3. Make a list of at least five ethics, values or models that you have. How might these be used in your work with young people?

Activity 9

Why might it be necessary to routinely monitor a client’s behaviour pattern? Provide at least five reasons.

Activity 10

1. Exploring client and stakeholder needs is an integral part of developing case management/ care plans. How can you identify client needs and cater for them in case management plans?

2. What strategies might be implemented to prevent, and respond to a client’s expressions of violence against self or others? Provide three examples.

3. It is necessary, once a plan has been designed, to communicate it to relevant personnel so the plan can be properly implemented. Explain what this means.

Activity 11

1. Explain how you would promote calmness and reassure people in a crisis situation. Support your answer with an example.

2. What is the main concern when responding to critical incidents?

3. Youth care workers need to develop strategies for handling potential conflicts and/or situations where clients might be harmed or might harm themselves or others. They need to develop suitable interventions. What form might these interventions take? Provide at least five examples.

Activity 12

1. Why are written reports important aspects of case management?

2. Explain how behavioural records can contribute to the identification of defusing responses.

Activity 13

1. What is the first priority in a crisis situation?

2. What should you consider before applying physical restraint?

3. Write an incident report—a document that you might be asked to complete according to your organisation’s procedure—for a workplace occurrence in which someone was hurt.

4. Write a case note—a document that you might be asked to complete according to your organisation’s procedures—that might be written by a worker employed by a young person’s service organisation.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Question 1

When critical incidents arise workers must defuse the situation through the use of strategies that will prevent or minimise harm. What are ten of the protocols that they should follow?

Question 2

1. a) What is duty of care? b) What does duty of care require of professionals working with vulnerable people? c) Are workers required to intervene in incidents where their own safety is jeopardised?

Question 3

Identify ten of the characteristics of a supportive team and explain how a team can contribute to problem solving.

Question 4

What are five of the signs that a client might need first aid? What should you do if someone collapses? What should you do if someone stops breathing?

Question 5

What are ten of the things you should do when communicating with clients in a crisis situation?

Question 6

How can information about clients and their cases be reported to supervisors (key coordinators)?

Question 7

What is an industry code of practice and what are the aims of such codes?

CASE STUDY

You are a Youth Coordinator and you have organised and planned an excursion for mid February to the Flinders Rangers. These are the details of the excursion:

• 4 nights / 5 days.
• Group of 12 youths aged 16-19. Mixed genders.
• Some of the youths have mental illnesses such as bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, mild-depression and also behavioural issues.
• You are accompanied by 1 other staff that is classified as a Youth Case Worker.
• Transport will be by a small bus with a professional driver.
• Accommodation will be in the form of small dormitories with full amenities.
• Food will be provided by the accommodation daily.
• Activities for the excursion will include:
• Study on the flora and fauna of the Flinders
• Whole day course on outdoor camping and bush survival
• Visit to a sheep shearing shed
• Visit Aboriginal sites plus guest speakers and study of Aboriginal culture of the area
• Study of the rock formations and geological history of the Flinders
• Team building activities and games

The documentation that needs to be completed can be found below.

CASE STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What are the potential causes of CONFLICT/CRISIS in the excursion group? Give 2 examples and answer the following:

• What are the actions that might be taken to minimise harm, secure safety of clients and prevent escalation of violent and abusive behaviours?
• How can you respond so that calm and reassurance are promoted in crisis situations?
• How can you protect yourself, other clients involved in the excursion?
• Under what circumstance and in what ways might physical restraint be utilised?
• What procedures should be followed to design, develop and implement appropriate care plan for young clients?
• What information should be shared with co-workers and other stakeholders and in what ways might that information be facilitated?

2. What extra assistance in terms of resources do you require for this excursion?

Detail types of assistance appropriate to various situations. Please explain. (200 words)

3. Identify equipment that you may need to support responses to potential crisis situations for this excursion. (200 words)