Assessor Resource

ACMGAS205A
Assist in health care of animals

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit is applicable to new entrants to the animal care and management industry. Animal care may occur in a wide variety of workplaces, including retail pet stores, kennels and catteries, shelters, veterinary practices, zoos, animal research facilities and others.

In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised.

This unit of competency covers the process of providing assistance to experienced staff in the capture, restraint and assessment of animals and the preparation, application and documentation of treatments.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

observe animal behaviour to identify potential health problems and in order to determine tactics required to catch animals

assist others in the capture, removal and restraint of animals in accordance with OHS and workplace requirements

identify individual animals, measure their vital signs and conduct a basic visual and external assessment under supervision

assist in the application or administration of treatment

document observations and treatments

clean inspection and treatment areas.

The skills and knowledge required to assist with the health care of animals must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal care workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions. Workplaces can include pet shops, breeding or boarding kennels and catteries, aviaries, companion animal training, grooming establishments, animal shelters, zoos, mobile animal facilities and veterinary practices.

There must be access to a range of animals as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.Assessment must cover a minimum of one species from at least two of the six major animal groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates).

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

third-party evidence

workplace documentation

portfolio.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

complete relevant work-related documents

comply with basic legislative and regulatory compliance requirements in animal care workplaces

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with animals

identify common indicators of the presence of disease and infection processes

identify signs of progress or deterioration in condition or health of animals

maintain the highest standards of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection

measure animal vital signs and hydration status

participate in arrangements for maintaining the health and safety of all people and animals in the workplace

use chemicals and cleaning agents to clean treatment areas and workplace in accordance with state or territory legislation and organisational policies and procedures

use equipment and machinery correctly and safely

literacy skills to read and follow organisational policies and procedures, including OHS

oral communication skills/language to fulfill the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

use personal protective clothing and equipment correctly

problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures.

Required knowledge

animal care and hygiene principles

animal temperaments and behaviours related to the associated hazards and risks to animals and staff during animal capture, restraint, inspection and treatment

common ailments, disease and injury indicators

common health maintenance issues and treatment protocols

communication procedures and systems, and technology relevant to the organisation and the individual's work responsibilities

examination techniques for health status

methods of transmission of disease and infection

methods used to capture, restrain and examine animals

organisational policies, procedures and requirements, including OHS, emergency procedures and treatment programs

physiological features of animals

principles of animal welfare and ethics

regulations relating to the disposal of hazardous waste

relevant OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

safe animal handling techniques and procedures

storage and security requirements for medications

terminology used to identify animals and describe their behaviour

vital signs, their normal range and reasons for concern for measurements outside normal range

workplace hygiene standards, disinfectants, cleaning agents, cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. 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) may also be included.

Animals may include:

animals commonly encountered within the industry workplace and may cover both native and introduced species

animals from the six major animal groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates).

Capture methods to be used may include:

calling animal by name and approaching using non-threatening body language

collecting animal from cage or enclosure

holding barriers in place whilst supervisor catches animal

using catching poles, leads, blankets or nets

waiting for supervisor to initially catch animal

working with supervisor to corner animal.

OHSrisks when working with animals may include:

animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

handling of chemicals and medicines

gas leakage

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

release of infective agents (animal and human)

slippery or uneven work surfaces

zoonoses.

Relevant OHSrequirements may include:

following safe work method statements in the conduct of work tasks

hazard identification and risk minimisation procedures for the handling of animals

hazard identification and risk minimisation procedures for the handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals

manual handling strategies

procedures for the handling and disposal of biological wastes

use of personal protective clothing and equipment relevant to the task:

animal handling gauntlets

gloves

hearing or eye protection

protective masks

work boots.

Positive identification may include:

checking brands, tattoos or other tagging

checking for microchip and verifying number

checking for response when calling animal by name

comparing colour and markings with records

confirming identification of animal with owner

confirming sex of animal.

Methods used to keep animal restrained may include:

confining animal using a towel or other cloth

holding animal after supervisor has fitted restraints

holding animal ensuring close body contact and ensuring full control over animal's head and limbs

using collar and lead to keep animal still

using hand pressure.

External features and vital signs may include:

external features:

body condition score

coat or skin condition

ear, eye, nose presence or absence of discharge

eye condition and response to light

presence of wounds, lesions, swelling or heat

smell of breath

vital signs:

temperature

pulse

respiration

capillary refill

hydration status.

Equipment and supplies may include:

forceps, scissors and clippers

scales

shampoo and skin treatments

thermometer and stethoscope

vaccines, syringes, needles and sharps disposal container

worming syringe or tube and medications

wound cleaning solution, gauze and topical creams.

Common health maintenance issues may include:

annual health check-up

coat or skin care and condition

contagious diseases

control of parasites

digestive upsets and dietary imbalances

immunisation/vaccinations requirements

injuries

insect control

quarantine of sick animals

species specific ailments.

Post-treatment routines may include:

checking and reporting stock supply quantities

cleaning and disinfecting treatment area

completing required documentation as directed

disposing of sharps and contaminated or used materials

monitoring animal after treatment

preparing equipment for sterilisation

returning animal to owner or enclosure.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Animal behaviour is observed and noted prior to capture. 
Methods to be used to capture animals are confirmed with supervisor. 
Role of self and others in capture process are clarified in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS) and workplace requirements. 
Positive identification of animals to be treated is confirmed with supervisor. 
Assistance is provided in moving animal to inspection area. 
Animal is appropriately restrained under supervision. 
External features and vital signs of animal health are determined. 
Animal is inspected under supervision for general health and wellbeing and findings reported. 
Supervisor's observations on animal health are recorded. 
Equipment and supplies are prepared according to instructions. 
Treatment protocols for common health maintenance issues are determined. 
Assistance is provided in the application of treatments. 
Treatment is documented using workplace protocols. 
Post-treatment routines are completed. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMGAS205A - Assist in health care of animals
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

ACMGAS205A - Assist in health care of animals

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: