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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

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

Health care professionalsservices locally nationally and internationally and of their relationship to other professions and organisations

Referral procedures

The paradigms including fee environments within which other professions function

The professions special characteristics historical mileposts aspirations and strengths

The role of other health professionals and support services

What constitutes a medical emergency or referral

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

Apply referral procedures

Communicate effectively

Consult colleagues for special expertise

Demonstrate appreciation of the relative merits of the treatment options available in regard to cost benefit and efficiency of such procedures

Formulate referral plans and arrange referrals

Write referrals certificates and correspondence

Write third party and medico legal reports certificates and correspondence

Evidence Required

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

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

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

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 practitioners workplace

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

holisticintegrated assessment including

working within the practice framework

performing a health assessment

assessing the client

planning treatment

providing treatment

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 andor Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible

Simulations may be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

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

Resources essential for assessment include

contact directories

Method of assessment

Observation in the work place if possible

Written assignmentsprojects 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

Conventional letters or electronic communication

Range Statement



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.

Need for referral may include:	Client in need of ongoing support or counselling Client with a counselling need beyond the practitioner's own level of skill Client with a personality disorder Disclosure, by a minor, of abuse Practitioner establishes a supervisory, social or sexual relationship with client Practitioner identifies with client transference or counter-transference Referral to a GP for initial or follow up pathology Referral to GP/health services because of a/or suspicion of notifiable disease Suicidal or homicidal client

Other health care professionals/services may include but are not limited to:	Complementary health therapists Dieticians Doctors Law officers Mental health units or hospitals Physiotherapists/chiropractors Professional counsellors or psychologists Psychiatrists Social or health workers

Complementary health care practitioners may include:	Acupuncturists Chiropractors Herbalists Massage therapists More experienced homoeopaths with or without a speciality Naturopaths Osteopaths

Support services may include:	Domestic violence telephone service Life line Local child care centre Local church groups Local other than Christian groups Local welfare centre Others

Referral may be by:	Verbal communication Written communication

Client records may include:	A copy of the whole care record A synopsis of the case record Homoeopathic specific information via e.g. Standard Case Recoding forms, symptom descriptor forms, treatment evaluation and progress sheets

Briefing may include:	Conventional written letter Electronic communication e.g. email Verbal communication e.g. telephone or face to face