PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 

This is an entry-level Qualification within a career pathway for Victim Empowerment to NQF level 4. The qualifying learner will apply an understanding of the Victim Empowerment sector to empower him/herself and the community. The acquisition of the related skills in Human and Social Studies will increase the pool of competent entry-level human resources for the sector. The core knowledge, skills and attitudes of this Qualification for the Victim Empowerment workplace is aimed at both social and economic benefits for the learner.

The learner assessed as competent against this Qualification will be able to:

• Communicate in a variety of ways to achieve personal and organisational objectives
• Use mathematics and mathematical thinking to solve every day problems for him/herself, organisation and victims in the community
• Use Victim Empowerment knowledge, skills and attitudes to provide support services to victims of crime, violence and human rights abuses
• Provide support to various categories of victims in relation to Victim Empowerment
• Use workplace knowledge, skills and attitudes to deliver Victim Empowerment Services

Victims in South Africa are numerous and widespread across all regions and communities. This Unit Standards-Based Qualification should enable learners in affected communities to understand issues faced by victims, to provide victim support, to identify resources and services available in the community and to utilise these appropriately.

One of the key challenges in victim empowerment in South Africa is to develop a set of minimum standards and standardised training for service providers. Service providers include government departments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOS), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) that provide direct services to victims and perpetrators of crime, victims of violence, victims of torture, etc.

Training in the Victim Empowerment Sector is provided under the generic title of Victim Empowerment, but includes various components such as education and awareness, advocacy, medico-legal services, court support, court preparation, legal advice, victim support (i.e. emotional support, practical assistance and information), trauma counselling, psychological support, in-patient care, etc)

Training is therefore personalised according to trainees’ profiles (professional background, literacy level, etc.) Trainees are as diverse as police officials, nurses (forensic, psychiatric, primary health care), volunteers, lay counsellors, etc. In all cases, generic and specific training “modules” are offered.

Many areas of peri-urban and rural South Africa cannot be reached by mental health professionals such as psychologists, social workers, etc. As a result of the scarcity of this kind of worker in these areas, Victim Empowerment services in communities are primarily volunteer driven, with volunteers working under the auspices of recognised mental health professionals, NGOs, CBOs and FBOs established to meet specific community needs.

The key role of Victim Empowerment service providers is to improve the quality of life of community members by providing improved access to and delivery of Victim Empowerment services at local level within the context of an inter-sectoral environment.