Required skills

communication skills to

interact with the customer to

obtain and provide information

confirm understanding

suggest and supply medicines and products

ask questions to identify and confirm requirements

learning skills to maintain currency of the schedule of the SUSMP

literacy skills to

follow pharmacy protocols and procedures

interpret information on product labels

record customer information

teamwork skills to operate as part of a pharmacy team providing relevant information and seeking advice from a pharmacist and other pharmacy staff as required

technology skills to access and use information systems required by the role

Required knowledge

broad factors taken into account when determining scheduling eg quantities and concentration of active ingredients in packaged medicine

common problems or health conditions for which Pharmacy Medicines or Pharmacist Only Medicines are used

health privacy principles

legal requirements and pharmacy procedures for positioning and advertising scheduled items in a pharmacy

personal role boundaries and responsibilities and circumstances under which referral to a pharmacist or other pharmacy staff is required

pharmacy protocols and procedures relating to Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines including

maintaining privacy and confidentiality of customer information

referring to a pharmacist

supplying Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

roles of the

Advisory Committee in Chemicals Scheduling

Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling

Therapeutic Goods Administration TGA in approving registration of new medicines

sources of information on scheduled medicines

system for scheduling medicines

schedule of medicines including

Pharmacy Medicine S

Pharmacist Only Medicine S

Prescription Only Medicine S

Caution S

Poison S

Dangerous Poison S

Controlled Drug S

Prohibited Substance S

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to

apply knowledge of commonly requested medicines scheduled as Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

follow pharmacy protocols and procedures to identify customer supply needs

operate within the role boundaries that apply to a pharmacy assistant and follow pharmacy protocols and procedures when supplying Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

refer all requests for Pharmacist Only Medicines to a pharmacist and recognise and act on other triggers for referral

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure that competency is

observed by the assessor or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor as described in the assessment guidelines

demonstrated across a range of customers over sufficient time to include handling of a range of contingencies

demonstrated in a real or simulated pharmacy environment which may include customer interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the pharmacy

Assessment must ensure access to

a range of real or simulated customers with different requirements

a range of Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

typical pharmacy storage locations shelf facings and signage for a community pharmacy including unscheduled medicines Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

pharmacy protocols and procedures

relevant regulations and guidelines

relevant documentation such as

consumer product information

selfcare advice

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge The following examples are appropriate for this unit

observation of the candidate in the workplace

applying tact and discretion when collecting information from and providing information to customers

following pharmacy procedures when supplying Pharmacy Medicines and Pharmacist Only Medicines

responding to product and symptombased requests

responding to product and symptombased requests

written or oral questions appropriate to the language and literacy level of the learner to test relevant underpinning knowledge

role plays to confirm communication skills required to meet diverse customer requirements

review of portfolios of evidence and thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended

Legal requirements and industry standardsmay vary between States and Territories and may include:

Customers may include people:

Standards for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisonsmay include:

Protocols and proceduresmay include:

Triggers for referral to a pharmacist may include:

Information sources may include: