The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

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

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic) is essential for assessment of this unit

Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender

Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:

interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace

scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units

holistic/integrated assessment including:

working within the practice framework

performing a health assessment

assessing the client

planning treatment

providing treatment

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment

Relevant journals

Relevant texts or medical manuals

Relevant paper-based/video assessment instruments

Access to internet or on-line research information

Appropriate assessment environment

Skilled assessors

Method of assessment may include:

Practical demonstration and observation in the work place (if possible)

Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge

Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice

Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (laboratory). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision

Simulations

Explanations of technique

Oral questioning and discussion

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

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:

Advanced biochemistry of food and nutrients

Appropriate choice of supplements required to achieve specific outcomes

Blood analysis and biochemical tests to assess vitamin and mineral levels

Chelation therapy

Contra-indications to treatment

Dietary requirements for different cultural and religious groups

How to select best treatment/medicine within best current practice

Issues such as IV (parenteral) administration of vitamins and minerals

Less common disease states and functional problems of particular groups in society with specific needs including, but not limited to: infants, children, adolescents, elderly, peri- and post- menopausal, pregnant and lactating women

Less common nutritional supplements used for each system/condition, including their active principles and biochemical mechanism of action

Metabolic pathway imbalances

Nutrient toxicity

Nutrient-drug, food-drug interactions

Nutritional approaches to disease management with regard to therapeutic diets

Pharmacological uses and dosages of nutritional supplements

Scheduled nutritional supplements, including reasons for scheduling

Specialised nutritional needs of particular groups in society (e.g. Infants, children, adolescents, elderly, peri- and post- menopausal, pregnant and lactating women, recreational and elite athlete/sportspersons)

Supplementary measures in the management of optimal health (eg counselling, lifestyle, exercise)

The possible responses to treatments

The principles of formulation (including dosage and duration of treatment)

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability 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 the ability to:

Access and critically evaluate reference material on the effects of current conventional drug therapies and their withdrawal

Appropriately record details of information findings

Correctly identify information needs

Demonstrate interpersonal and questioning skills

Determine the nutritional needs of clients with specific human conditions/diseases or health/fitness goals

Identify and access a range of primary, secondary, new and established information sources

Identify high risk clients in relation to risk of complications, severity of disease process, lifestyle factors and their impact on treatment strategies, time-frame of treatment, and other factors

Work or model work which demonstrates an ability to apply the underpinning values and principles of clinical nutrition within clinical practice

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.

Nutritional needs refers to:

Needs arising from a specific condition/disease

Requirements to meet specific health outcomes

Prevention/prophylactic care

Needs arising from analysis of Anthropometric and biochemical data

Specific health outcome may include:

Weight loss

Palliation/prevention/prophylaxis and/or management of specific conditions/diseases

Relief from specific symptoms

Specialised nutritional treatment:

Pharmacological dosage of nutritional supplements

Supplementation through foods

Modifications to eating and/or lifestyle patterns

Detoxification or elimination regimes

Various life stage may include:

Childhood

Adolescence

Male and female adulthood

Geriatric

Consent for treatment includes:

Informed consent according to local and national regulations and guidelines

Consent from appropriate adult in the case of a minor or ward of the State

Factors which interfere with the effectiveness of treatment may include:

Other medical treatment being undertaken

Other western medicinal dietary intervention

Client's physical and psychological readiness and/or wellness

Cultural factors

Contraindications to nutritional supplementation or certain dietary changes (ie modified protein intake)

Post treatment activity