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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Provide potential client with information about services and products
   • Services and products provided are outlined and general estimates of costs of services and products are provided
   • Possible subsidised funding options for services or products are presented to client
   • Client is provided with estimate of time required to conduct assessment and the general procedures associated with the assessment
   • Client is advised on general and medical documentation and footwear and orthoses required for assessment
   • Suitable appointment time and location for assessment are negotiated and confirmed
   • Client's current walking condition and need for assistance in attending assessment are discussed
2. Interpret prescription or referral information
   • Prescriptions and referrals are reviewed to determine action to be taken
   • Health, medical professionals or agencies are contacted to clarify issues or to obtain further information
3. Obtain pertinent personal and medical information from client
   • General health status and personal information is obtained to establish client profile
   • Detailed information is obtained regarding client medical history and present health status and condition
   • Information is recorded accurately and completely to assist in determining possible plans of action
4. Observe general physical and emotional state of client and implement supportive actions
   • Degree of mobility and level of assistance and support required by client are noted
   • Client discomfort is minimised by providing walking aids or transport devices, as required
   • A friendly and empathic communication style is used to reassure client and reduce anxiety or stress
   • Other physical characteristics of client that may have an affect on future plans of action are noted
   • The assessment environment complies with professional and accepted community standards for client comfort and privacy and OHS practices
   • Other suitably qualified professionals are consulted with, if necessary to discuss concerns or issues arising from client physical or emotional state
5. Identify client's needs and expectations
   • Client lifestyle and work needs are identified
   • Client personal short- and long-term goals are identified
   • Client expectations related to services and products to be provided are discussed and agreement reached between client and service provider
   • Client questions about short- and long-term improvement in condition are answered honestly and frankly
   • Client general suitability for service and products are determined and options discussed with client and medical or health professionals, as required
6. Conduct physical assessment of foot and lower limb
   • Physical examination of foot and lower limb is carried out and prescription and referral information compared with findings, if appropriate
   • Presence and extent of medical conditions of foot and lower limb are identified, including types and grades of any skin conditions that may affect the provision of medical grade footwear and orthoses
   • Range of motion of foot and lower limb, function of muscles and joints, status of joints, and other factors and abnormalities that affect the functioning of the foot are assessed against established norms
   • Information is recorded accurately and completely
7. Carry out measurements on foot, footwear and orthoses
   • Appropriate measurement techniques are selected based on client's presenting medical problem
   • Direct and representation measurements are taken related to shape and size of foot
   • Gait analysis is performed to obtain baseline data of client's walk pattern, including any deviation from norms and lower back and pelvic consequences of client's gait
   • Supplementary measurement techniques are used to confirm primary findings or to provide additional data
   • Trial fit is conducted using commercial or client's footwear
   • Footwear and orthoses are examined and measurements taken, as necessary
   • Measurements are recorded within prescribed levels of accuracy
   • Data derived from measurements is analysed and results recorded in client file using established procedures
8. Work collaboratively with other health professionals
   • Roles and functions of other service providers are recognised and acknowledged within accepted ethical standards
   • Health care professionals and other service providers are consulted, as appropriate, and in accordance with relevant legislation, for information, advice, assistance or cooperation
   • Clients are fully advised as to indications and reasons for referral
   • Client consent to release relevant information to other professionals or service providers is documented
   • Client information is provided to other health professionals or service providers, in accordance with medico-legal requirements and ethics related to confidentiality
   • Outcome of referral process is communicated to initiating practitioner or service provider, verbally or in writing
9. Develop a management plan and seek approval of client and other parties to implement plan
   • All information provided by client, health professionals or agencies and measurements are analysed and prioritised to provide the basis for a plan of action
   • Plan of action is formulated and options are presented to the client, in consultation with carers, health professionals or agencies, where necessary
   • Client is allocated sufficient time to consult with other parties to make an informed decision about proposed plan of action
   • Specifications are developed that reflect client needs, and current medical condition, and feasibility to produce footwear or orthoses
   • Agreement is reached with client, and other parties if necessary, regarding costs, timelines and payment schedules to implement plan of action
   • Prior to commencement of any stage of the plan of action, client is provided with a briefing to ensure complete understanding of processes, procedures and expected outcomes

Required Skills

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

Demonstrates knowledge of problemsolving approach to carry out assessments of clients with footrelated medical conditions based on an appropriate level knowledge of anatomy and physiology client medical condition classification system for determining medical grade footwear and orthotic options common medical conditions include orthopaedic vascular neurological degenerative principles of biomechanics and kinesiology that directly influence the design and development of medical grade footwear and orthoses names locations and functions of foot leg and pelvic bones anatomy of the leg and foot single muscles including names and attachment points the way muscles run in the leg and foot purpose of each muscle and other muscles and ligaments that work with each muscle the problems and consequences of the muscle not working correctly including the effect of paralysis on individual muscles gait patterns including knowledge of biomechanics detailed gait pattern analyses such as deviations from norms and gait pattern relationship to individual muscles pathomechanics consequences of defective gaits for lower back and pelvis surgical and conservative physiotherapy procedures including consequences of different types of foot operations eg osteotomies achilles tendon releases rerouting of tendons and other major surgical procedures different types and grades of skin injuries and the appropriate referral strategy for each type of skin injury dressing strategies for ulcers and the means of accommodating dressings in medical grade footwear measurement techniques which include direct measurements rulers and tape measures representation footprint tracing ink pressure draw in landmarks casts plaster impression foam foot tracing and degrees indirect scale footwear scales Brannock devices shoe fittings commercial and own extra nonfootwear measures pressures pressure footprints measurement techniques using scanners computerised and video gait pattern analysers and other new technologies Australian standards or industry standards used in the construction of footwear followup and ongoing review process practitioner and client relationship and factors which can affect this relationship services provided by medical and allied health professionals principles of medical grade footwear design and how they can be used to meet individual client requirements general and medical grade footwear construction techniques materials and tools and equipment used available prefabricated footwear safety and environmental aspects of enterprise production processes operation of State and federal government departments eg Department of Veterans Affairs and State health agencies relevant to medical grade footwear operations health insurance funds and reimbursement or supplementary paying schemes eg Aids and Appliances Program Department of Veterans Affairs Workers Compensation Brotherhood of St Laurence health insurance and funding industry and enterprise codes of practice multicrossdisciplinary principles and practices relevant codes of practice and regulations governing other practitioners allied health professionals and service providers roles capabilities and limitations of appropriate medical and allied health professionals other practitioners community resources and services range of services capable of being supplied by other professionals and service providers personal professional and medicolegal accountability maintenance of client and colleague confidentiality team and group leadership and group dynamics community expectations of practitioners documentation requirements conflict resolution techniques individual attributes and differences affecting the practitionerclient relationship regulatory requirements copyright obligations and codes of practice OHS practices including hazard identification and control measures quality practices workplace practices recording and reporting practices

Demonstrates skills to adhere to prescribed professional reporting processes establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and other professionals work as a member of a multicrossdisciplinary team acknowledge limits of knowledge and skill and referring clients to other professionals when necessary document information for referral to or review by industry associates and other professionals objectively evaluate services and products of industry associates and other professionals use appropriate communication skills to collect information from clients and provide advice and information that are commensurate with the clients language and cognitive abilities use consultative skills for eliciting information from medical and allied health professionals examine foot and lower limb and taking measurements using appropriate techniques record and document all consultative client and measurement data use problemsolving and decision making skills to formulate plans of action and provide options for a variety of footwear problems read interpret and follow information on work specifications standard operating procedures and work instructions and other reference material maintain accurate records communicate within the workplace sequence operations meet specifications clarify and check taskrelated information carry out work according to OHS practices

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 the Training Package
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Demonstrates skills and knowledge to communicate with clients and carers in a manner consistent with the clients level of understanding of processes and procedures liaise and consult with medical and allied health professionals conduct physical examinations of the foot and lower limbs and obtain measurements analyse gait and measure deviations from norms identify clients gait the relationship to different foot and leg muscles and any lower back and pelvic twists identify requirement for referral to medical practitioner or other health professional record and document measurements and other test results use problemsolving approach to make decisions related to medical grade footwear or orthoses options develop a plan of action and management plan comply with the principles and standards of duty of care observe ethical standards of client confidentiality follow up and review clients progress perform administrative tasks associated with maintaining client records financial record keeping and filing and storing clients foot tracings impressions or casts establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and colleagues identify limitation of own knowledge and skills and make referral to more appropriate service providers as required clear accurate and relevant communication written and verbal which meets professional and ethical standards achieve multidisciplinary collaboration and input when indicated recognise primary accountability and responsibility for client apply OHS policies in work operations maintain accurate records Consistently applies skills and knowledge when organising work completing tasks identifying improvements using workplace practices using OHS practices recording and reporting accidents and incidents assessing operational readiness of equipment used and work processes recognising and adapting to cultural differences in the workplace including modes of behaviour and interactions completing work systematically with attention to detail without damage to goods and equipment
Context and specific resources for assessment	Assessment may occur on the job or in an appropriately simulated environment and requires access to work areas materials and equipment and to information on workplace practices and OHS practices
Guidance information for assessment	This unit may be assessed independently or in combination with other relevant units

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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. Bold italicised wording, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Legislative/regulatory requirements	All work must comply with relevant Federal and State or Territory legislative or regulatory requirements.
Client may include people	referred for assessment by medical or health care professionals making direct contact
Assessment may:	include the initial meeting of client and practitioner, ongoing during development of medical grade footwear and orthoses and as part of follow-up or regular client review need to be verified by suitably qualified medical and health professionals to confirm the level and status of foot-related medical condition to be treated
Assessment environment may include:	on-site at enterprise in a hospital or community health care centre at a residential aged care or disability facility at client or carer home
OHS practices	OHS practices must include hazard identification and control, risk assessment and implementation of risk reduction measures specific to the tasks described by this unit, and may include: manual handling techniques standard operating procedures personal protective equipment safe materials handling taking of rest breaks ergonomic arrangement of workplaces following marked walkways safe storage of equipment housekeeping reporting accidents and incidents other OHS practices relevant to the job and enterprise

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