Specific areas

Different kinds of problem areas need different approaches, so the agencies that treat them have different methods, values, and philosophies. This list is not at all comprehensive. Besides those mentioned below, you might also find disability, homelessness, and unemployment.

 

Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

People can acquire permanant brain injury through accidents to the head or a lack of oxygen to the brain. People with addiction issues also have brain injury, but it is not normally permanent. You should:

• be aware of the causes and effects of ABI
• understand the impact of cognitive impairment on the individual and families, including associated grief and loss issues
• know the ABI service system
• be able to work with people with challenging behaviors.

 

Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD)

You may need to know how to minimize harm and recognize the effects of AOD on the body and on social relationships, and of the signs and symptoms of intoxication.

You'll need to know groups and agencies in the community who can respond to individuals with AOD problems by providing treatment and detoxification programs. Also important is an awareness of personal bias, and models or perspectives on drug use (i.e. disease perspective, moral perspective of both the client and of referral agencies).

You will need to know of groups and agencies in the community that can detoxify and treat individuals with AOD problems.

Some people will have a personal bias toward some agencies and against others. If you refer people to AOD agencies, you need to check that the agency you refer to follows a philosophy that you and your organization can agree with, and will suit the client being referred:

• Some agencies treat substance abuse as only a health problem. This is only appropriate for cases that require medically supervised detox. A holistic program is necessary for long-term recovery.
• Some agencies treat substance abuse more holistically. Besides health, they consider other aspects of recovery such as morality, behaviour, emotional care, relational reconciliation and career pathways after recovery. These offer a better long-term solution that health-only.
• Some agencies encourage substance abuse victims to abstain completely from the drug of addiction. Others seek only to minimize harm, for example, by using syringe exchanges.
• A few agencies require clients to detox cold turkey and refrain from pharmacological support. This approach is not recommended.
• Long-term residential facilities with holistic care offer the best hope of complete recovery, but are more difficult for people who have families.

Different kinds of drugs have different physical effects, and they vary according to how much they were used. They generally induce malnutrition and poor health if used for long enough. Some are diet suppressants while others bring on obesity.

Most addictive drugs tend to make people behave erratically and manipulate people, both of which tend to alienate them from other people. Some drugs eventually produce psychosis and paranoia.

The signs of alcohol intoxication are slowed reactions, slurred speech, and poor physical coordination.

 

Child protection

When working with adult clients who have children, you must include the safety, welfare and well-being of the children in all case management practices.

Things to watch out for relating to children:

• domestic and family violence
• neglect
• exposure to danger (lack of duty of care)
• exploitation
• systems abuse
• abuse in all forms
• family members with alcohol and other drugs (AOD) issues
• family members with mental health concerns
• former refugee children who have experienced torture and trauma
• family law issues (e.g. separation or divorce of parents)

Mandatory reporting

Child protection requires knowledge of relevant state mandatory reporting legislation and its application. For example, In Western Australian mandatory reporting applies to doctors, nurses and midwives, teachers (i.e. anybody registered under WACOT), teachers in community kindergartens, teachers in detention centres, and police officers.

The mandatory reporter must report suspicions of child sexual abuse to the Department for Child Protection if they form this belief, based on reasonable grounds, in the course of paid or unpaid work. They should also report other forms of abuse (physical, emotional and neglect), but there's no penalty if they don't.

Child sexual abuse includes sexual behaviour in circumstances where:

1. the child is the subject of bribery, coercion, a threat, exploitation or violence; or
2. the child has less power than another person involved in the behaviour; or
3. there is a significant disparity in the developmental function or maturity of the child and another person involved in the behaviour.

Child protection also requires knowledge of child development, dynamics of child abuse, risk factors, behavioural/physical indicators of abuse and agencies that respond to child protection matters. (See the separate unit Identify and respond to children and young people at risk CHCCHILD401A)

You can be required to report under other conditions too, such as:

• separate rules for duty of care for wards of state and
• contractual obligations, such as those applying when providing services to the Department of Education .

 

Developmental disability

Developmental disability includes difficulties learning, thinking and reasoning, retaining information and forming social relationships.

It is vital to recognize clients' individuality, their right to age appropriate consultation and to self determination. You also need to recognize needs arising from any social isolation and the critical importance of primary care-givers in their lives. You need to know groups and agencies in the community that can provide advocacy services. (Keep a list of contacts.)

 

Domestic violence

Domestic violence occurs across all groups, cultures and creeds, and is often an abuse of power perpetrated both in a relationship and after separation. It takes a number of forms:

• physical and sexual violence,
• emotional and psychological abuse and
• economic deprivation.

The safety and well being of victims should be your primary concern. This often means that women need help to move directly into a refuge.

You need to know the groups and agencies in the community who can respond to individuals with domestic violence issues.

 

Financial problems

The most common financial problem is unpayable debt, especially relating to credit cards. Other financial problems are lack of tax reporting, and problems with banks.

 

Government agencies

Problems with social services (Centrelink) are most common. Medicare is also a possibility.

 

Juvenile justice

You will need to know about juvenile justice according to your role. You may need to know:

• about your adolescent clients and their special need as individuals, within families and as part of a group.
• their stages of development and
• social issues affecting youth.

You need to be able to recognize how vulnerable young people are when dealing with authority. You should also recognize the protections that should operate during an investigation or proceeding in relation to an offence.

Keep a list of contanct in agencies in the community that can provide advocacy and legal services for young people dealing with the justice system.

 

Legal problems

This may include civil issues such as custody of children or court orders. You may wish to refer the client to legal aid.

Legal problems can also include offences that could be prosecuted, such as harassment, threat of violence, criminal damage, or possession of illicit substances.

If the offence is subject to mandatory reporting, you have no choice but to report it. If it brings physical danger to people on your premises, then under your OHS obligations, you may need to get police help. (In some job roles, violent clients is a major OHS risk.)

Otherwise you face the ethical dilemma of having to decide how to act in the best interests of your client.

 

Mental health

You may need to recognize basic signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, erratic behavior, suicidal impulses, and indicators of mental illness such as hallucinations or delusion. You need to know of suitable referral and intervention services in the community.