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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Determine scope of client needs
   • Explore and clarify client expectations
   • Provide clear information about scope and limits of services to be provided
   • Collect accurate and relevant information and record in a form which can be interpreted readily by other professionals
   • Recognise needs that are beyond scope of own practice and make referrals to other health care professionals as required
   • Identify and respond to any barriers to information gathering and assessment
   • Seek client information respectfully and sensitively, using purposeful, systematic and diplomatic questions
   • Manage information in a confidential and secure way
3. Assess presenting signs and symptoms of condition
   • Provide information about the physical assessment process and obtain client consent to proceed
   • Follow clinical and practitioner hygiene procedures
   • Seek client feedback on comfort levels and maintain client dignity at all times
   • Assess client through palpation
   • Integrate observation and sensory information gathering techniques
   • Use ongoing questioning with client to gain further information as required
4. Develop holistic aromatherapy treatment plan
   • Correlate results of physical assessment of presenting condition with case history
   • Consider available western medical or current aromatherapy research information and incorporate into analysis within scope of own practice
   • Identify condition according to stage and related implications
   • Identify indication or contraindication precautions determined by assessment as part of treatment planning
   • Select appropriate aromatherapy compounds in accordance with optimal methods of administration based on client assessment indications
   • Determine dose, duration and frequency of treatments
   • Use professional judgement to draw sound conclusions about treatment needs
   • Accurately document proposed treatment plan
5. Confirm assessment and treatment plan with client
   • Discuss assessment and rationale with the client
   • Assign and agree priorities and expectations in consultation with the client
   • Respond to client enquiries using language the client understands
   • Discuss referral and collaborative options with the client as required

Performance Evidence

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:

performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 120 hours of aromatherapy client consultation work

prepared for and managed at least 60 different aromatherapy assessments. Clients must include males and females from different stages of life with varied presentations

used an aromatherapy framework to assess the therapeutic needs of clients using all of the following techniques:

observation

palpation

skin inspection

interacted effectively with clients:

clearly articulated information about services, treatment options and rationale

engaged clients in decision making

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

legal and ethical considerations (national and state/territory) for client assessment:

codes of conduct

duty of care

informed consent

mandatory reporting

practitioner/client boundaries

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

records management

work role boundaries

working within scope of practice

presenting symptoms that require referral to a medical practitioner

work health and safety

referral options for practitioners:

professional health services including complementary health modalities

community resources and support services

types and availability of further medical testing

factors and barriers that may impact on assessment

physical

psychological

cultural

factors that affect individual health status:

constitution

lifestyle

diet

personal and medical history

values and attitudes

balance of rest and activity

physical environment

social environment

client information required for assessment and the scope and depth of information needed around:

client objectives and expectations

client history and its components

client current state of health

signs and symptoms

onset

duration

location

quality and severity

non-verbal

different ways that signs and symptoms of conditions present and how these are interpreted in an aromatherapy framework:

physical

psychological

social

spiritual

aromatherapy diagnostic techniques, how and when they are used

observation

palpation

skin inspection

ways in which aromatic plant oils and carrier mediums enter the body:

absorption

metabolism

olfactory

respiratory

orally

via other orifices

degree to which different oils penetrate the epidermis

how essential oils interact with different body systems, including:

integumentary system

respiratory system

neuroendocrine system

immune system

features of aromatic plant oils that benefit disorders of different body systems:

integumentary (eczema, psoriasis, burns, wounds)

respiratory

nervous (olfactory, limbic)

circulatory

muscular

digestive

reproductive

endocrine

aromatherapy materia medica, including the properties and therapeutic uses of at least 60 essential oils

indicators for the use of different administration methods, including:

massage

baths

vapourisation

compresses

topical applications

possible reactions, contra-indications to treatment and/or limitations for aromatherapy assessment and treatment

relational dynamics within and between human behaviour, anatomy and physiology, pathology and the natural world

treatment planning techniques and considerations

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