CHCPOL402B: Contribute to policy development

Descriptor: This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to develop and analyse policies which impact on the client group and the work of the organisation

Employability Skills: This unit contains Employability Skills
Application: This unit may apply in a range of community service contexts

Element	Performance Criteria
Elements define the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.	The Performance Criteria specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element. Terms in italics are elaborated in the Range Statement.
1. Review existing policies	1.1 Identify relevant organisation and other policies and assess them for relevance to the organisations objectives and effectiveness 1.2 Consult clients and other stakeholders about their views on policies 1.3 Document and present reviews of policies in a format appropriate to the purpose of the review, the context, and the receiver
2. Contribute to research for policy advice	2.1 Identify, plan and implement research and consultation strategies appropriate to the worker’s role in the research process within timeframes, resource constraints and agreed processes 2.2 Collate, report and present research and consultation outcomes in a format appropriate to the research process, the purpose of the research, the context and the receiver 2.3 Identify factors impacting on quality or outcomes of research or consultation and incorporate in reports
3. Provide briefing materials on policy issues	3.1 Prepare briefing materials as required in a format appropriate to audience, purpose and context 3.2 Draw on expertise and role of worker and organisation for briefing materials 3.3 Incorporate reasoned argument and evidence into briefing materials
4. Promote informed policy debate	4.1 Identify strategies to stimulate informed debate appropriate to the worker’s role in policy development, community education or client service delivery in consultation with other workers and management 4.2 Implement strategies to stimulate informed debate within timeframes, resource allocations and agreed processes 4.3 Where necessary, implement strategies to translate policy materials into language/s easily understood by clients and other stakeholders 4.4 Develop strategies that enable exchange of views and information between policy initiators, clients and other stakeholders

Required Skills And Knowledge

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively perform task skills; task management skills; contingency management skills and job/role environment skills as outlined in elements and performance criteria
These include knowledge of:

Organisation policies impacting on the worker, the organisation and its target groups
Government and other policies impacting on the issue under consideration, and the organisation and its target groups
The contexts for policies, people and the organisation
Research and consultation techniques
The limits of the worker’s own role and competence and the organisation’s role

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Demonstrate application of skills to:
- policies within own organisation
- policies within networks or associations
- policies directly related to own work role and areas of expertise
- policies for target groups relevant to the organisation
Demonstrate involvement with stakeholders relevant to the organisation and the policy issue under consideration

In addition, the candidate must be able to demonstrate relevant task skills; task management skills; contingency management skills and job/role environment skills
These include the ability to:

Analyse evidence and arguments
Demonstrate reasoning, including identification of implications and consequences of particular courses of action
Apply consultation and research methodologies
Demonstrate application of skills in:
- report writing, including translation of complex concepts into simple language or images
- public speaking addressing a group
- group participation
- effective use of relevant information technology in line with occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines

Range Statement

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Research may be:	Survey Qualitative Quantitative
Information gathering and consultation techniques may include:	Interview structured, semi-structured and unstructured, group and individual Conversation by phone or face-to-face Observation and listening Collection of materials e.g. Printed material and videos Attendance at workshops, meetings and forums Questionnaires and other basic survey instruments
Strategies to stimulate informed debate will involve:	Employing a range of communication styles, modes and media Employing any of the consultation techniques identified in the Range Statement Employing networking strategies

Evidence Guide

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.