Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

ACMACR408A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Coordinate seizure of animals

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ACMACR408A - Coordinate seizure of animals
Description This unit of competency covers the process of coordinating a seizure plan and the seizing of animals that may be aggressive, dangerous, injured or large.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Therefore, it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking this unit.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit is applicable to those working in the animal control and regulation sectors where non-routine situations involving aggressive dogs and livestock may arise. It requires the ability to use equipment, such as portable yards, traps, firearms, capture guns and restraining drugs.In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised.Notes:Appropriate licences are required for those involved in training and assessment against this unit. Relevant records must be kept in accordance with legislation and standard operating procedures.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Assess the situation
  • Circumstances pertaining to the seizure situation are noted and recorded.
  • Organisational policies and procedures and legislative requirements are followed at all times.
  • Safety of self, assistants, the public and target animals is maintained.
  • Seizure plan is determined in consultation with colleagues and other relevant personnel.
       
Element: Coordinate the seizure plan
  • Backup from appropriate personnel is requested.
  • Appropriate area is quarantined, if required, to minimise risk to self, assistants, the public and target animals.
  • Professional assistance and/or advice are sought if required.
  • Emergency services personnel are notified and, if necessary, involved.
  • Occupational health and safety (OHS) and emergency procedures relating to the seizure are put into place.
       
Element: Capture animals
  • Personnel assisting in the seizure are given appropriate instructions.
  • Appropriate equipment is selected, unpacked and prepared in accordance with manufacturers' requirements.
  • Drug doses for sedation and/or immobilisation are calculated and prepared.
  • Equipment is used legally, correctly and safely to capture animals in an ethical and humane manner.
  • Animals are secured, restrained, loaded and transported humanely.
  • Animals are unloaded and secured at holding destination.
  • Deceased animals are disposed of in accordance with organisational and legislative requirements.
  • Drugged animals are handled appropriately, examined for health and welfare problems and, if necessary, recovery treatment is given.
  • Relevant licences and permits for the use of drugs and equipment are held by the user.
       
Element: Complete post-seizure procedures
  • Equipment is cleaned, maintained and stored in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
  • Drugs used for sedation and/or immobilisation are stored in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and legislative requirements.
  • If relevant, owners of animals are notified, followed up and further action is taken if required.
  • Appropriate documentation about the incident is completed and entered into relevant management systems.
  • Supervisor is briefed on incident if appropriate and necessary.
  • Seizure plan and capture are reviewed, if required, to ensure improved performance in the future.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

plan and coordinate the seizure of animals including requesting backup/assistance as required and minimising risk to self, assistants, the public and target animal

capture a range of dangerous, aggressive, large or injured animals

use capture/seizure, restraint, sedation and transportation equipment/devices in a safe and humane manner

communicate effectively with bystanders and the personnel involved in the seizure

administer drugs remotely to seize animals as required and permitted by legislation

prepare brief for supervisor after the event as required by organisational policies and procedures

access and use management systems to keep and maintain accurate records of seizure.

The skills and knowledge required to coordinate seizure of animals must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal control and regulation workplace or a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to a range of dangerous, aggressive, large and/or injured animals as well as the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

third-party evidence

workplace documentation

portfolio.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

administer specific drugs where permitted by legislation

apply effective decision making skills to develop a seizure plan quickly in consultation with others

calculate doses of specific drugs and administer medications

capture/seize animals using safe and humane animal handling and restraint techniques

complete relevant workplace documentation, using appropriate equipment, to record and report information regarding the seizure of animals

coordinate others and work as part of a team

implement organisational policies and procedures

demonstrate a mature approach to the daily application of safe work practices

estimate target animals' body weights sufficient to calculate drug doses

maintain the highest standard of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection

maintain tools and equipment in accordance with manufacturers' specifications

procure, store and record use of specific drugs and dispose of discarded materials

use firearms safely and with accuracy where required licences and permits are held

literacy skills to read and follow organisational policies and procedures, including OHS, infection control and waste management; follow sequenced written instructions; record accurately and legibly information collected; and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks

oral communication skills/language to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and consulting with or seeking advice from supervisor

numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures.

Required knowledge

animal stress and threat signs (e.g. aggression)

animals' interpretation of human body language when being approached

appropriate capture and restraint methods for different animals

equipment, methods and strategies for seizing, restraining and transporting animals

health, hygiene, diseases and zoonoses

importance of maintaining equipment

relevant legislation and codes of practice relating to the capture/seizure and transportation of animals

organisational policies and procedures, including OHS and animal welfare

relevant state or territory legislation covering the use of therapeutic and controlled substances

relevant legislation and codes of practice relating to OHS and animal control and regulation requirements

specific restraint drugs including:

their pharmacology

antidotes

dose rates

methods of administration

effects (to both animals and humans in case of error)

use of equipment, including firearms, capture guns and anaesthetic agents.

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. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Assessment of situations may include:

circumstances, such as aggressive/large/injured animal

consideration of the safety of members of the public, self, team members and animals

crowded place

environmental issues concerning residential properties, public facilities, open spaces and roads

road safety

time of day

the health and wellbeing of animals to be seized

type, size and number of animals to be seized.

Development of seizure plan may include:

consideration of risk issues involved

making the area safe (e.g. roadway where traffic needs to be stopped)

urgency (e.g. how quickly resolution is required)

whether the situation can be quarantined

if better arrangements can be made for a later time

appropriate capture strategy and methods for the circumstances

number of personnel available to assist and their relevant skills

involvement of other emergency services personnel (e.g. police, paramedics and fire and rescue)

availability of equipment and qualified equipment operator

number, type, size, weight and height of animals

animals' behaviour, such as fear, panic or aggression

injuries animals might have sustained

legislative requirements

immediate area (e.g. paddock or main road)

role of participants in the seizure

restraint procedures

transport requirements

where animal will be taken or disposed of in the event of its death

relevant documentation to be completed.

Relevant personnel may include:

animal control officers

emergency services, such as:

fire and ambulance

relevant state/territory department officers

other council staff

police

veterinarians

wildlife officers.

Animals may include:

large animals:

livestock (e.g. cattle, horses and sheep)

kangaroos

camels and emus

may also include escaped circus animals

aggressive animals in most cases would refer to dogs but may include:

livestock or escaped circus animals

dangerous animals:

snakes

aggressive animals or escaped circus animals

animals not normally dealt with should also be treated as dangerous animals on approach by an officer to ensure the safety to the officer and bystanders

injured animals:

all of the above as well as wildlife and/or native animals.

OHS risks when capturing and seizing animals may include:

animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

handling of chemicals, medicines and firearms

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

release of infective agents (animal and human)

slippery or uneven work surfaces

zoonoses.

Emergency procedures may include:

potential escape of an animal or injury to an animal, other animals, staff and potentially the public.

Equipment may include:

equipment used in securing or restraining livestock and/or large animals:

bells and horns

bribes (e.g. food)

cages

catch poles

demountable yards

halters and head stalls

hessian bags/woolpacks

leads

nets

protective clothing

stock transporter vehicles

temporary fencing

trail bikes

traps

winch loaders

equipment used in routine dog capture techniques to restrain dogs that are not manageable:

trapping devices

in some situations, and when permitted by legislation, restraining drugs (e.g. tranquillisers or anaesthetics) may need to be remotely administered to livestock or unmanageable dogs via projectile firing devices (e.g. firearm or capture gun) and using a limited number of the most appropriate drugs

on occasions where no other reasonable option exists, animals that cannot be effectively restrained may need to be shot dead where they are.

Appropriate licences and permits must be held by the user and relevant records must be kept in accordance with legislation and standard operating procedures.

Transporting animals may include:

loading animals into vehicles

applying appropriate restraints

in some cases an officer may have to feed, water and/or provide temporary housing for the animal (this will depend on the opening hours of the end destination that may include a veterinary clinic or pound).

Further action requirements may include:

discussion with owners in respect to their responsibilities and the animal's future, retrieval process of an animal and legal proceedings.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Circumstances pertaining to the seizure situation are noted and recorded. 
Organisational policies and procedures and legislative requirements are followed at all times. 
Safety of self, assistants, the public and target animals is maintained. 
Seizure plan is determined in consultation with colleagues and other relevant personnel. 
Backup from appropriate personnel is requested. 
Appropriate area is quarantined, if required, to minimise risk to self, assistants, the public and target animals. 
Professional assistance and/or advice are sought if required. 
Emergency services personnel are notified and, if necessary, involved. 
Occupational health and safety (OHS) and emergency procedures relating to the seizure are put into place. 
Personnel assisting in the seizure are given appropriate instructions. 
Appropriate equipment is selected, unpacked and prepared in accordance with manufacturers' requirements. 
Drug doses for sedation and/or immobilisation are calculated and prepared. 
Equipment is used legally, correctly and safely to capture animals in an ethical and humane manner. 
Animals are secured, restrained, loaded and transported humanely. 
Animals are unloaded and secured at holding destination. 
Deceased animals are disposed of in accordance with organisational and legislative requirements. 
Drugged animals are handled appropriately, examined for health and welfare problems and, if necessary, recovery treatment is given. 
Relevant licences and permits for the use of drugs and equipment are held by the user. 
Equipment is cleaned, maintained and stored in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 
Drugs used for sedation and/or immobilisation are stored in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and legislative requirements. 
If relevant, owners of animals are notified, followed up and further action is taken if required. 
Appropriate documentation about the incident is completed and entered into relevant management systems. 
Supervisor is briefed on incident if appropriate and necessary. 
Seizure plan and capture are reviewed, if required, to ensure improved performance in the future. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMACR408A - Coordinate seizure of animals
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

ACMACR408A - Coordinate seizure of animals

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: