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

Chemical and physical incompatibilities

Clinical indications of medicines relevant to specific circumstances eg infectious diseases first aid and injuries

Common causes of variation and corrective action required

Dispensing procedures

Drug abuse signs consequences treatment community resources available in particular those with emphasis on drugrelated problems

Drug use in pregnancy specific diseases and disorders of each system of the body

Equipment and instrumentation components purpose and operation

External therapy products both medicinal and domestic eg baths bath oils creams dyes fomentations incenses aromatherapy products compresses ointments perfumes pomanders potpourri poultices sachets salves

Groups of medicines and how to distinguish between them according to actions active constituents body systems and plant families

Handling requirements for dangerous good

How the dispensing process affects the end product

Hygiene standards

Identification and application of good manufacturing practice and standard operating procedures

Internal preparations culinary plants common herbal teas medicinal preparations eg biochemic and bioenergetic remedies cold extracts cordials decoctions essences herbal honeys homeopathic remedies infusions methaglyns nutritional supplements oxymels powders spagyric technique succus syrups tinctures

Legislative requirements in dispensing herbal products

Major herbal medicines with respect to their use for general symptoms psychological and physiological indications

Medical terminology

Minor herbal medicines in respect to their most important indications

Nonherbal ingredients used in the preparation of herbal medicines

Work health and safety WHS hazards and controls

Pharmacodynamics of herbal medicines and pharmaceutical drugs drug administration absorption distribution metabolism and excretion

Pharmacodynamics of herbal medicines and pharmaceutical drugs and the theory of drug action factors modifying drug effect and dosage drug toxicity and toxicology

Pharmacology of herbal medicines and pharmaceutical drugs their classifications usage and side effects

Prescription of medicines legal restrictions therapeutic goods administration health and safety labelling requirements scheduled herbs principles of manufacturing remedies testing of natural therapy products

Process specifications procedures and operating parameters

Purpose and basic principles of the dispensing process

Purpose and requirements of raw materials segregation

Quality characteristics to be achieved

Recording requirements and procedure

Significance and methods of monitoring control points within the dispensing process

Types and characteristics of manufacturing raw materials

Waste handling requirements and procedures

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 workplace information to identify requirements for the dispensing process

Calculate assaypotency adjustment

Carry out routine maintenance

Collect herbs for manufacture

Confirm equipment status and condition

Correctly identify plants in natural and preserved states

Correctly preserve and dry plant materials

Demonstrated ability to sort collect treat recycle or dispose of waste including taking into account opportunities to address waste minimisation environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues

Describe major features of plants

Ensure supply of necessary materials and services to the dispensing process

Identify and describe actions for a minimum of herbs

Implement manufacturing and dispensing process

Maintain work area to meet housekeeping standards

Measure and segregate materials

Monitor the dispensing process and equipment operation to identify outofspecification results or noncompliance This may include

equipment faults

labelling

materials faults

measuring devices

service faults

stock flowquantity

And may include the ability to

clean and sanitise equipment

take samples and conduct tests

Pack and label dispensed materials

Prepare herbal medicines for clients in pharmaceutical forms capsules emulsions creams ointments suppositories etc

Record workplace information

Skilfully extract herbs

Take corrective action in response to outofspecification results or noncompliance

Verify clearance and cleanliness

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

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over a range of workplace situations

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

Evidence is required of both knowledge and skills application

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

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 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

an appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment

manufacturing and dispensing resources

relevant texts or medical manuals

relevant paperbasedvideo assessment instruments

appropriate assessment environment

skilled assessors

Method of assessment

Observation in the work place or practical demonstration

Written assignmentsprojects

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

Questioning

Role play simulation

Explanations of technique

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

Related units

This unit should be assessed in conjunction with the following related unit

HLTINC Comply with infection control policies and procedures

HLTIN301C Comply with infection control policies and procedures

Different menstruum may include:

Various types of herbal medicines may include:

Equipment may include:

Manufacturing instructions may include:

Workplace information may include: