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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. Identify customer needs.
   • Follow organisational procedures to respect and protect customer privacy.
   • Question and actively listen to confirm customer needs.
   • Identify and act on triggers for referral to pharmacist.
2. Provide NSP equipment.
   • Follow organisational procedures and NSP operational guidelines for providing NSP services.
   • Supply ready-made equipment packs to customers.
   • Clearly explain contents of packs and how to use sharps disposal containers.
   • Accept sealed sharps disposal containers and lodge in pharmacy yellow sharps bin.
   • Handle sharps disposal containers safely and hygienically and wear personal protective equipment to avoid injury and infection.
3. Respond to information requirements.
   • Request customer participation in information gathering, according to guidelines.
   • Collect and accurately report customer and other NSP data according to guidelines.
   • Respond to customer requests for information on relevant support agencies.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:

provide Australian Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) services to three different customers, and provide information to each on:

content and use of ready-made equipment packs

how to use sharps disposal containers

statistics collected by the NSP

self-referral alcohol and drug support agencies

demonstrate the correct procedures for the return of sharps disposal containers and lodgement in pharmacy yellow sharps bins

collect customer and other NSP statistics and complete one report.

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Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

public health benefits of needle and syringe programs

operational guidelines of the NSP program and instructions for collecting and reporting NSP statistics

content and use of ready-made equipment packs

safe and hygienic practices for handling returned sharps disposal containers

sources of information on self-referral alcohol and drug support agencies

role boundaries and responsibilities of pharmacy assistants for providing NSP program services, and circumstances which require and trigger referral to a pharmacist

organisational procedures for providing NSP services:

questions that must be asked to collect information about customer needs

collecting and supplying information to an agent acting on behalf of a customer

identifying and acting on triggers for referral to a pharmacist

maintaining privacy and confidentiality of customer information

collecting, recording and reporting NSP statistics

safe handling and disposal of sharps containers.

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