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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Conduct a formal pre-assessment interview with clients 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
120274  Conduct a formal pre-assessment interview with clients 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Probation Work 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful to people who work within the probation environment and are required to conduct formal pre-assessment interviews on clients.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Gather and record all information required for completion of a formal assessment interview with client.
  • DKO key interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Conduct a pre-assessment interview. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Communication competence equivalent to NQF Level 4.
  • Competence equivalent to that described in the unit standards: "Demonstrate an understanding of probation work"; "Demonstrate knowledge of crimeprevention within a probation context"; and "Apply knowledge of social issues in relation to probation work". 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:

    The duties of the Assistant Probation Officer is defined in the Probation Services Amendment Act, (2002):

    4A:
  • The Minister may appoint as many suitable persons as he or she may deem necessary as assistant probation officers to perform the duties imposed by or under this Act or any other law on an assistant probation officer.
  • The duties of an assistant probation officer shall include:
    > The monitoring of a child subject to home-based supervision.
    > The monitoring of persons subject to supervision.
    > Family finding.
    > The gathering of information for assessment by the probation officer 10.
    > Assisting a probation officer with his or her duties.

    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Gather and record all information required for the completion of a formal pre-assessment interview with a client. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The necessary documents containing prior records of the client are accurately completed in relation to the client's actions/crime. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Documents include: Records, dockets, forms.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Contact with persons related to the client are established and further information regarding the crime is gathered and recorded. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Persons include: Parents, neighbours, school, significant others, others involved in the crime.
  • Preliminary information includes: Biographical details, clients ID, crime details.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Questions used for gathering the initial information in the preliminary/basic interview are prepared using suitable questioning techniques appropriate for the client and parent or significant others. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Questioning techniques: Main, follow-up, probing, open and closed, simple and complex, broad (non-threatening/non-theme), specific and focused.
  • Appropriate: Language and level of the client.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Details of the crime are available, accurate and recorded in accordance with the organisation's information requirements and/or formats. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Other parties include: Parent, guardians, significant others, others involved in the particular crime.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The importance of conducting interviews using interviewing skills and knowledge of interview set-ups is explained in terms of gathering accurate preliminary information about the client. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Interview skills includes: Listen effectively, questioning, rapport, strategies to engage reluctant clients, anger levels, when to refer client to a clinic, interviewing pitfalls.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Conduct a basic preliminary interview. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Interpersonal skills are used consistently throughout the course of the interview in order to ensure clients are comfortable, at ease and willing to provide the necessary information. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Interpersonal skills include: Development of rapport, threatening vs. non-threatening behaviour, body language.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The interview is conducted at the level and pace of the client, and questioning techniques are used in ways that facilitate the gathering of required information. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
  • Interviewing skills: Communication skills, questioning techniques, non-verbal language, listening skills.
  • Questioning techniques include: Main, follow-up, probing, open and closed, simple and complex, broad (non-threatening/non-theme), specific and focused.
  • Interview skills includes: Listen effectively, questioning, rapport, strategies to engage reluctant clients, anger levels, when to refer client to a clinic, interviewing pitfalls.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The interview is shaped and structured to ensure the purpose of the interview is achieved. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Reflective summaries and paraphrasing are used to progress the interview with the client and parent or significant others in relation to gathering information. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The needs and/or requirements of the clients are identified and the interview process is adapted accordingly. Reluctant clients are handled with the appropriate strategy. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Needs/requirements include: Level of person, anger levels, clients understanding, basic needs, mental abilities; inarticulate clients and silences are dealt with accordingly.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Clients with mental disabilities are identified and where required referred to the clinic. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Pass on the preliminary information. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Recorded information gathered from the interviews is submitted to the relevant Probation Officer using the recognised format in terms of the detail required for preliminary interviews. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Information includes: Biographical details, clients ID, crime details, and circumstances.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Notes for the Probation Officer to use in court to guide recommendations are prepared using the correct format and document. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the relevant ETQA.

    Moderation Option:
  • The moderation requirements of the relevant ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems:
  • Learners will be required to actively solve problems within the interview context as no two interviews will be the same and learners will be required to deal with issues as an when they appear. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others and in teams:
  • Needs to be able to build a relationship with the client in order to extract required information. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information:
  • This will be particularly evident in the gather and record information specific outcome. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills:
  • Will be required when conducting the interview as well as the communication of the information obtained. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of inter-related parts of a system:
  • Needs to understand where interview fits in the process and what impact it may have on other systems if not completed according the required standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Definition of Terms:

    Terms have been clarified as far as possible through the use of range statements. Further clarification of terms is provided as follows:
  • Any arrested child who has not been released shall be assessed by a probation officer as soon as reasonably possible, but before his or her first appearance in court.
  • 'Assessment' means a process of developmental assessment or evaluation of a person, the family circumstances of the person, the nature and circumstances surrounding the alleged commission of an offence, its impact on the victim, the attitude of the alleged offender in relation to the offence and any other relevant factor.
  • 'Child' means any young person under the age of 18 years.
  • 'Home-based supervision' means supervision under certain conditions where an arrested, accused, convicted or sentenced child in the care of his or her parents or guardian or in the custody of any other person, is monitored by an assistant probation officer.
  • 'Restorative justice means the promotion of reconciliation restitution and responsibility through the involvement of a child and the child's parents family members victims and the communities concerned.
  • 'Supervision' means supervision of [a] an accused convicted or sentenced person by a probation officer [by virtue] in terms of the provisions of any law. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  50041   Further Education and Training Certificate: Probation Work  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  HW SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.