COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the course on Working with Intoxicated Clients in Community Services. This course is designed to provide you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively support and manage clients who are intoxicated, ensuring their safety and well-being while adhering to legal and ethical guidelines. By the end of this course, you will be proficient in assessing intoxication levels, providing necessary support, and implementing strategies to handle challenging situations.

We begin with an exploration of the legal and ethical considerations in alcohol and other drugs (AOD) work, focusing on how these considerations are applied within organisations and individual practice. Understanding these principles is crucial for ensuring that your actions are compliant with laws and uphold ethical standards.

Next, we will discuss the various contexts in which interactions with intoxicated persons may take place, such as community service settings, emergency shelters, and outreach programs. Recognising the signs and symptoms of alcohol and/or drug use is essential for assessing the level of intoxication and determining the appropriate course of action.

We will cover ways to assess intoxication and/or drug use levels, including observing behavioural and physical indicators. Understanding concurrent medical illnesses that may mimic or mask withdrawal symptoms is also important for accurate assessment and appropriate intervention.

Strategies for dealing with aggressive and potentially violent clients will be explored, including protective and risk management strategies to ensure the safety of both the client and the service provider. Additionally, we will discuss types of daily living assistance that may be provided to intoxicated clients to support their immediate needs.

Available support services and resources play a critical role in the care of intoxicated clients. We will cover how to identify and access these resources to provide comprehensive support to clients.

Practical application of skills will include assessing the level of intoxication and the nature and extent of alcohol and/or drug use, reporting any behaviour or physical status inconsistent with substance use to appropriate personnel, and seeking assistance when necessary. You will learn to identify the need for first aid and seek assistance from health professionals as required.

Providing a safe and secure environment for clients to sober up or come down is crucial. You will learn to monitor the client's physical state regularly to ensure their health and safety, accurately document the services provided, and maintain a calm and confident manner in all interactions.

Conducting interactions with clients in a fair, just, humane, and positive manner is essential for building trust and effectively managing the situation. You will use strategies identified in the organisation's response plan to maintain the safety of the client, yourself, and others, and provide services in line with infection control guidelines.

Following established procedures to seek emergency assistance and assisting clients with activities of daily living are key components of this course. You will also learn to provide information on AOD issues and the availability of support services, contact families and/or support networks at the client's request, and assess if the client represents a risk to themselves or others by leaving the facility.

Throughout the course, you will provide services to at least two intoxicated clients, applying communication and interpersonal skills such as managing difficult and aggressive behaviour, non-judgmental communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, and self-protection.

By the end of this course, you will be well-prepared to work with intoxicated clients in community services, ensuring their safety and well-being while maintaining professional and ethical standards.

This course is designed to align with the content outlined in the Nationally Recognised Unit of Competency CHCAOD002.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

Section A: Knowledge

·       Legal and ethical considerations in AOD work, and how they are applied in organisations and individual practice

·       Contexts in which interactions with intoxicated persons may take place

·       Signs and symptoms of alcohol and/or drug use

·       Ways to assess intoxication and/or drug use level/s

·       Concurrent medical illnesses which may mimic/mask withdrawal

·       Strategies for dealing with aggressive and potentially violent clients, including protective/risk management strategies

·       Types of daily living assistance that may be provided

·       Available support services and resources

Section B: Performance Tasks

·       Assess level of intoxication and nature and extent of alcohol and/or drug use

·       Report behaviour or physical status inconsistent with alcohol and/or drug use to the appropriate person and/or seek assistance

·       Identify the need for first aid and seek assistance from a health professional as required

·       Provide client with a safe and secure environment in which to sober up/come down

·       Monitor client’s physical state regularly to ensure health and safety

·       Accurately document services provided to client

·       Maintain calm and confident manner in contact with client

·       Conduct interactions with clients in a fair, just, humane and positive manner

·       Use strategies identified in organisation response plan

·       Maintain safety of client, self and others using established procedures

·       Provide services to client in a manner consistent with organisation infection control guidelines

·       Follow established procedures to seek emergency assistance

·       Assist client with activities of daily living

·       Provide information on AOD issues and availability of support services

·       Contact families and/or support networks at client request and in accordance with organisation policies

·       Assess client in accordance with organisation policy and procedure to determine if they represent a risk to themselves or others by leaving the facility

·       Provide services to at least 2 intoxicated clients

·       Used the following communication and interpersonal skills in dealing with intoxicated clients:

o   management of difficult and aggressive behaviour

o   non-judgmental communication

o   conflict resolution

o   negotiation

o   self-protection

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.