The incorporation of the psychometric tests into Khulisa’s initiatives when working with different demographic groups allows for scientific measurement of the growth of individuals whilst directing them effectively towards their future career orientation and development plans.
The assessments were developed by Munei Tshiovhe, the founder of Careers Building Blocks, who has created a suite of integrated digital personal development assessments for Khulisa.
Innovations of this kind, built on the principles of psychological well-being, are centralised around social and emotional awareness.

CAREER BUILDING BLOCKS

• Career Building Blocks in conjunction with Khulisa have developed an assessment called an Offender Recidivism Risk Assessment to predict areas that are risks for recidivism/violence and measures 4 areas to help the client and the practitioner working with the client a baseline of where to start with regard to intervention.
•  The tool also measures strengths and competencies that will help with placing clients in the right type of job. The core areas that the tool measures are important predictors of recidivism or the other side of the coin ‘desistance’ (what factors prevents people from falling back into crime).
•  90+ assessments were conducted with youth at risk/in conflict with the law, rehabilitating offenders and perpetrators of domestic violence.

The tool evaluates four key areas of development:

1.  Self-awareness (will improve self-awareness as you learn more about yourself through the results of this test);
2. Emotional/self-regulation (how you handle your emotions);
3. Social awareness (how aware are of others around you and what’s going on in your community);
4. Relationship management/Conflict Management (how well do you handle conflict?).

• The test is to predict areas that are risks for recidivism/violence, but measures those 4 areas to help the client and the practitioner working with the client a baseline of where to start with regard to intervention.
• The tool also measures strengths and competencies that will help with placing clients in the right type of job. The core areas that the tool measures are important predictors of recidivism or the other side of the coin ‘desistance’ (what factors prevents people from falling back into crime).

WHO CAN TAKE THE ASSESSMENT?

• Gender-Based Victims
• Perpetrators
• General population

QUESTIONNAIRE:

• Perceived Stress Level: Assesses stress levels related to the current pandemic.
• Dealing with Ambiguity: Assesses the ability to cope with the unknown.
• Self-regulation: This consists of an ability to think prior to acting, and also to suspend emotional judgement on occurrences.
• Self-awareness: A person that is self-aware understands what drives their behaviour, as well as the effects that it has on others.
• Relationship skills: When you possess strong social skills, you effortless form relationships with your peers, as well as manage them correctly.
• Social awareness: Possessing empathic traits does not necessarily involve feeling compassion for others, but rather understanding their emotional makeup and treating them according to subsequent reactions.

In addition to the assessments for perpetrators and victims of domestic and gender-based violence, other assessments include:

• Youth career orientation
• Knowledge/skills assessment
• Career guidance

Feedback from participants

“My client felt it confirmed the direction and interests he was already discovering in his life. I found it interesting being a part of the process with my client as it helped me understand him better,” Lisa Marqua-Harries from Restore.

“The process was extremely informative. The outcomes were so spot on, it highlighted to myself the areas in which my strengths lie. It also showed me the areas in which my capacities have diminished as a result of negative experiences. It had the potential of reminding me of who I once was and can be again” – Crystal

“The feedback on the assessment has been a remarkable process for the participants. It was both an affirming process, it highlighted their key competencies, deepened their self and social awareness, helped them understand their relationship conflict and brought hope, possibility and an excitement for the future. It was an interesting observation in the majority of participants recognized their competencies but realised that a lack of confidence was preventing them from reaching their goals. We are presently working with the participants on their development plans and we look forward to the journey in working on their goals.” Venessa Padayachee, Social worker, Mid-Way Services.

The Pilot Study in Numbers

• 76% of people with self-awareness are capable of building and managing their relationships, 70% can self-Regulate, 65% are socially aware
• 78% of people who are socially aware can self regulate, 77% can manage their relationships with others, 64% are Self-aware.
• 79% of people who can self regulate are socially aware, 75% can manage relationships, 65% have hostile aggression.
• 77% of people with good relationship skills are Socially aware, 75% are aware of themselves, 74% can self regulate.
• 64% of stressed candidates show symptoms of hostile aggression, 60%  can’t self regulate, 55% has low self-awareness.
• 60% of the people with a negative attitude towards violence will violate social norms in conflict, they have thoughts of revenge(59%), signs of anger and homicidal ideation.
• People who are hostile aggressive are mostly stressed(64%), they struggle with regulating their emotions, they have signs of anger(63%).
• 70% of the people who have relationship insecurities are mostly angry, they have suicidal ideations, they have a tendency of violating social norms.