Assessor Resource

HLTAHW059
Provide postnatal and infant health care

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit describes the required skills and knowledge to provide Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, infants and their families with specialist health care services in postnatal and infant health.

This unit applies to those Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

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



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.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria specify the level of performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Provide health information, support and care after birth for women, infants and families

1.1 Perform maternal and infant physical assessment and record observations of mother and infant in line with standard protocols and organisational guidelines

1.2 Provide information and support for self-care and wellbeing in the postnatal period

1.3 Provide advice on routine care of the newborn to mothers and refer as appropriate and within organisational guidelines and/or procedures

1.4 Implement strategies to establish and support breastfeeding

1.5 Discuss with the client the importance of nutrition, exercise, rest, sleep and support with domestic tasks and care of family in the immediate postnatal period

1.6 Identify minor postnatal problems for mother and newborn and provide appropriate advice

1.7 Identify potentially serious health conditions for mother and newborn and refer to senior health staff

1.8 Provide information on contraceptive options

1.9 Deliver, implement and monitor care in the postnatal period as per standard treatment protocols and in accordance with legislative guidelines

1.10 Undertake immediate care in response to at-risk situations

1.11 Observe and support maternal-infant attachment

2. Organise and evaluate maternal health programs

2.1 Maintain registers of women undergoing postnatal care according to organisational policies and procedures

2.2 Keep schedules of participation in postnatal care and use to organise continuing care for women

2.3 Organise and/or provide reminders, transport and other assistance to attend care according to women’s needs

2.4 Provide support to other staff participating in provision of postnatal care

2.5 Maintain referral and communication networks with medical staff, specialist obstetricians, midwives, allied health staff, birthing facility staff and female community Elders

2.6 Keep statistics on attendance for antenatal care and birthing outcomes and use to evaluate maternal health programs

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.

There must be evidence that the candidate has:

delivered postnatal health care for at least five clients, including:

conducting comprehensive health checks related to postnatal and infant health

providing treatment, medicine and other health care services appropriate to postnatal and infant health in a safe and effective manner and within guidelines

providing information, guidance and support to clients and their families with postnatal and/or infant health issues

monitoring the outcomes of postnatal and infant health care services and making any required revisions to services, care plans or information provided

recognising situations requiring immediate or urgent action, and implementing appropriate procedures

implementing strategies to support breastfeeding

discussing the importance of nutrition, exercise, rest and sleep

identifying minor postnatal problems for mother and newborn

communicating effectively with client to:

obtain information from client

provide advice and information on self-care, wellbeing, routine care of newborns and contraceptive options

discuss postnatal and infant health care issues

recording all observations of mother and/or newborn according to organisation procedures

maintaining registers of mothers undergoing postnatal care, keeping schedules of participation and statistics on attendance

supporting mothers and babies to attend follow-up appointments for health services

supervised at least one staff member participating in postnatal care.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role.

This includes knowledge of:

key aspects of anatomy/physiology, pharmacology, pathology and basic microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health

knowledge of microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health and prevention of infection or cross infection

postnatal nutritional needs of women and infants, including support of breastfeeding and other nutritional needs of the infant

health conditions, obstetric problems and associated issues related to postnatal and infant health

strategies to:

improve maternal and neonatal health in the community

address clients presenting with postnatal problems

coordinate provision of optimum level of maternal health service delivery

postnatal medical problems requiring referral

effective postnatal care practices for mother and baby

relevant assessment methods and use of associated equipment and testing procedures

relevant treatments, medicines and associated care services available

risks and contraindications associated with relevant treatments and medication

relevant evaluation criteria for monitoring effectiveness of specific postnatal and infant health management program

organisation policies and procedures, generally, and in particular relating to client confidentiality

role of the Aboriginal Health Worker in counselling and health education

vaccination schedules

minor and major complications of pregnancy and required treatments

realistic expectation of client condition during monitoring of progress.

Skills must be demonstrated working:

in a health service or centre

individually or as a member of a multidisciplinary primary health care team

with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

In addition, simulations and scenarios must be used where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely. These are situations relating to emergency or unplanned procedures where assessment in these circumstances would be unsafe or is impractical.

Simulated assessment environments must simulate the real-life working environment where these skills and knowledge would be performed, with all the relevant equipment and resources of that working environment.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Assessment must be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in this unit of competency and who is:

an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker

or:

accompanied by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care


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.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria specify the level of performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Provide health information, support and care after birth for women, infants and families

1.1 Perform maternal and infant physical assessment and record observations of mother and infant in line with standard protocols and organisational guidelines

1.2 Provide information and support for self-care and wellbeing in the postnatal period

1.3 Provide advice on routine care of the newborn to mothers and refer as appropriate and within organisational guidelines and/or procedures

1.4 Implement strategies to establish and support breastfeeding

1.5 Discuss with the client the importance of nutrition, exercise, rest, sleep and support with domestic tasks and care of family in the immediate postnatal period

1.6 Identify minor postnatal problems for mother and newborn and provide appropriate advice

1.7 Identify potentially serious health conditions for mother and newborn and refer to senior health staff

1.8 Provide information on contraceptive options

1.9 Deliver, implement and monitor care in the postnatal period as per standard treatment protocols and in accordance with legislative guidelines

1.10 Undertake immediate care in response to at-risk situations

1.11 Observe and support maternal-infant attachment

2. Organise and evaluate maternal health programs

2.1 Maintain registers of women undergoing postnatal care according to organisational policies and procedures

2.2 Keep schedules of participation in postnatal care and use to organise continuing care for women

2.3 Organise and/or provide reminders, transport and other assistance to attend care according to women’s needs

2.4 Provide support to other staff participating in provision of postnatal care

2.5 Maintain referral and communication networks with medical staff, specialist obstetricians, midwives, allied health staff, birthing facility staff and female community Elders

2.6 Keep statistics on attendance for antenatal care and birthing outcomes and use to evaluate maternal health programs

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.

There must be evidence that the candidate has:

delivered postnatal health care for at least five clients, including:

conducting comprehensive health checks related to postnatal and infant health

providing treatment, medicine and other health care services appropriate to postnatal and infant health in a safe and effective manner and within guidelines

providing information, guidance and support to clients and their families with postnatal and/or infant health issues

monitoring the outcomes of postnatal and infant health care services and making any required revisions to services, care plans or information provided

recognising situations requiring immediate or urgent action, and implementing appropriate procedures

implementing strategies to support breastfeeding

discussing the importance of nutrition, exercise, rest and sleep

identifying minor postnatal problems for mother and newborn

communicating effectively with client to:

obtain information from client

provide advice and information on self-care, wellbeing, routine care of newborns and contraceptive options

discuss postnatal and infant health care issues

recording all observations of mother and/or newborn according to organisation procedures

maintaining registers of mothers undergoing postnatal care, keeping schedules of participation and statistics on attendance

supporting mothers and babies to attend follow-up appointments for health services

supervised at least one staff member participating in postnatal care.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role.

This includes knowledge of:

key aspects of anatomy/physiology, pharmacology, pathology and basic microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health

knowledge of microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health and prevention of infection or cross infection

postnatal nutritional needs of women and infants, including support of breastfeeding and other nutritional needs of the infant

health conditions, obstetric problems and associated issues related to postnatal and infant health

strategies to:

improve maternal and neonatal health in the community

address clients presenting with postnatal problems

coordinate provision of optimum level of maternal health service delivery

postnatal medical problems requiring referral

effective postnatal care practices for mother and baby

relevant assessment methods and use of associated equipment and testing procedures

relevant treatments, medicines and associated care services available

risks and contraindications associated with relevant treatments and medication

relevant evaluation criteria for monitoring effectiveness of specific postnatal and infant health management program

organisation policies and procedures, generally, and in particular relating to client confidentiality

role of the Aboriginal Health Worker in counselling and health education

vaccination schedules

minor and major complications of pregnancy and required treatments

realistic expectation of client condition during monitoring of progress.

Skills must be demonstrated working:

in a health service or centre

individually or as a member of a multidisciplinary primary health care team

with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

In addition, simulations and scenarios must be used where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely. These are situations relating to emergency or unplanned procedures where assessment in these circumstances would be unsafe or is impractical.

Simulated assessment environments must simulate the real-life working environment where these skills and knowledge would be performed, with all the relevant equipment and resources of that working environment.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Assessment must be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in this unit of competency and who is:

an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker

or:

accompanied by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care

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
 
Perform maternal and infant physical assessment and record observations of mother and infant in line with standard protocols and organisational guidelines 
Provide information and support for self-care and wellbeing in the postnatal period 
Provide advice on routine care of the newborn to mothers and refer as appropriate and within organisational guidelines and/or procedures 
Implement strategies to establish and support breastfeeding 
Discuss with the client the importance of nutrition, exercise, rest, sleep and support with domestic tasks and care of family in the immediate postnatal period 
Identify minor postnatal problems for mother and newborn and provide appropriate advice 
Identify potentially serious health conditions for mother and newborn and refer to senior health staff 
Provide information on contraceptive options 
Deliver, implement and monitor care in the postnatal period as per standard treatment protocols and in accordance with legislative guidelines 
Undertake immediate care in response to at-risk situations 
Observe and support maternal-infant attachment 
Maintain registers of women undergoing postnatal care according to organisational policies and procedures 
Keep schedules of participation in postnatal care and use to organise continuing care for women 
Organise and/or provide reminders, transport and other assistance to attend care according to women’s needs 
Provide support to other staff participating in provision of postnatal care 
Maintain referral and communication networks with medical staff, specialist obstetricians, midwives, allied health staff, birthing facility staff and female community Elders 
Keep statistics on attendance for antenatal care and birthing outcomes and use to evaluate maternal health programs 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

HLTAHW059 - Provide postnatal and infant health care
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

HLTAHW059 - Provide postnatal and infant health care

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: