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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Provide potential client with information about services and products
  2. Interpret prescription or referral information
  3. Obtain pertinent personal and medical information from client
  4. Observe general physical and emotional state of client and implement supportive actions
  5. Identify client's needs and expectations
  6. Conduct physical assessment of foot and lower limb
  7. Carry out measurements on foot, footwear and orthoses
  8. Work collaboratively with other health professionals
  9. Develop a management plan and seek approval of client and other parties to implement plan

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Workplace procedures include one or more of the following:

requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment

standard operating procedures (SOPs)

work instructions

oral, written and visual communication

quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output

housekeeping

tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling

WHS practices

Australian Standards include:

the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken

Medium complexity and risk foot conditions include one or more of the following:

the client is suffering foot-related pain or discomfort

ulceration is not present

there is only a single risk factor

Risk factors include one or more of the following:

age

systemic problems such as diabetes (insulin dependent)

haemophilia

peripheral vascular disease

neuropathy

ulcers

missing toes

lower limb amputations

Clients include one or more of the following:

those referred for assessment by medical or health care professionals

those making direct contact

Assessment includes one or more of the following:

initial meeting of client and practitioner

ongoing during development of medical grade footwear and orthoses

as part of follow-up or regular client review

Need for assistance in attending assessment includes one or more of the following:

language interpreters or other facilitators experienced in sign language or the use of communication devices used by physically or intellectually impaired people

walking aids or transport devices, such as walking sticks, frames or wheelchairs

Assessment environment includes one or more of the following:

on-site at workplace

in a hospital or community health care centre

at a residential aged care or disability facility

at client or carer home

Allied health professionals include one or more of the following:

podiatrists

physiotherapists

community health nurses

Medical professionals include one or more of the following:

general practitioners

specialist medical practitioners

surgeons

radiologists

WHS practices

WHS practices must include hazard identification and control, risk assessment and implementation of risk reduction measures specific to the tasks described by this unit, and include one or more of the following:

manual handling techniques

SOPs

personal protective equipment (PPE)

safe materials handling

taking of rest breaks

ergonomic arrangement of workplaces

following marked walkways

safe storage of equipment

housekeeping

reporting accidents and incidents

other WHS practices relevant to the job and enterprise

Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance, and include:

reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safe work practices and other reference material

applying relevant standards

communicating with clients and carers in a manner consistent with the client level of understanding of processes and procedures

liaising and consulting with medical and allied health professionals

conducting physical examinations of the foot and lower limbs and obtaining measurements

performing gait analysis, including:

comparison to average healthy parameters

identification of common problems and consequences

recording and documenting measurements and other test results

using problem-solving approach to make decisions related to medical grade footwear or orthoses options

developing a plan of action and management plan

complying with the principles and standards of 'duty of care' and observing ethical standards of client confidentiality

following up and reviewing client's progress

performing administrative tasks associated with maintaining client records, financial record keeping, and filing and storing client's foot tracings, impressions or casts

establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with clients, colleagues and other health and medical professionals

identifying limitation of own knowledge and skills and making referral to more appropriate service providers, as required

using clear, accurate and relevant oral and written communication which meets professional and ethical standards

achieving multi-disciplinary collaboration and input, when necessary

recognising primary accountability and responsibility for client

applying work health and safety (WHS) policies in work operations

maintaining accurate records.

Knowledge Evidence

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

relevant Australian Standards

problem-solving approach to carry out assessments of clients with foot-related medical conditions based on an appropriate level of anatomy and physiology knowledge

client medical condition classification system for determining medical grade footwear and orthotic options (common medical conditions include orthopaedic, vascular, neurological and degenerative)

principles of biomechanics and kinesiology that directly influence the design and development of medical grade footwear and orthoses

foot bones, including names, locations and functions

foot and leg muscle groups and how they work and the effect of paralysis on muscle groups

types of common skin injuries and the indications that, if present, require referral to another health professional

healthy and abnormal gait patterns, the consequences of abnormal gait, including basic knowledge of lower back problems

common surgical and physiotherapy procedures and their consequences for the provision of medical grade footwear and orthoses

measurement techniques, including:

direct measurements (rulers and tape measures and representation)

footprints (tracing ink pressure and draw in landmarks)

casts (plaster impression and foam)

foot tracing (90, 60 and 45 degrees)

indirect scale - footwear scales (Brannock devices)

shoe fittings (commercial and own), extra non-footwear measures - pressures (pressure footprints)

measurement equipment, such as scanners, computerised and video gait pattern analysers, and other new technologies

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

Australian Standards or industry standards used in the construction of footwear

follow-up and ongoing review process

practitioner and client relationship and factors that can affect this relationship

services provided by medical and allied health professionals

available prefabricated footwear

WHS and environmental aspects of enterprise production processes

operation of state/territory and federal government departments (e.g. Department of Veterans' Affairs) and state/territory health agencies relevant to medical grade footwear operations

health insurance funds and reimbursement or supplementary paying schemes, including Aids and Appliances Program, Department of Veterans' Affairs, workers' compensation and Brotherhood of St Laurence

health insurance and funding

industry and workplace codes of practice

multi and cross-disciplinary 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 medico-legal 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 practitioner and client relationship, regulatory requirements, copyright obligations and codes of practice

WHS practices, including hazard identification and control measures

quality practices

workplace practices

recording and reporting practices.