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

ACMVET409A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Provide specific animal care advice

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ACMVET409A - Provide specific animal care advice
Description This Unit of Competency covers the process of providing advice to clients (owners) about animal care, nutrition, behaviour and products. All advice must be provided in a competent manner and in accordance with clinic policies and procedures.
Employability Skills This Unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This Unit applies to a veterinary nurse working under supervision of a veterinarian in a veterinary clinic or similar practice. 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.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Nil.
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: Provide specific animal health advice
  • Evaluation of patient's needs is completed to provide the basis for advice provision.
  • Primary care advice is provided to the client as required, noting relevant workplace health and safety requirements.
       
Element: Offer animal care product advice
  • Background information on the range of animal care products stocked by the clinic is prepared and documented as required.
  • Client requirements are established through discussion and evaluation.
  • Specific product advice is provided to clients in accordance with established procedures.
       
Element: Advise on animal nutritional requirements
  • Relevant data on patient and patient history are collected in accordance with established protocols.
  • Basic advice is provided to the owner on the nutritional needs of the animal.
  • Details of advice and actions are provided and recorded in clinic records and patient history.
       
Element: Provide animal behaviour advice
  • Types of normal and inappropriate animal behaviour are explained and discussed with the owner.
  • Basic advice is provided on techniques to modify inappropriate behaviour.
  • Details of advice and strategies are recorded in the patient's history.
       


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 competency 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:

determine patient details, needs and requirements from interview and clinic records

communicate effectively with clients and provide advice on animals' health, nutrition and behaviour and on animal care products in accordance with clinic policy and procedures and in a competent manner

maintain accurate patient records.

The skills and knowledge required to provide specific animal care advice 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 for this Unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a veterinary practice or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency of performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than two occasions over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, patients, 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

Ability to:

apply animal behaviour modification techniques

interpret the value of home-prepared rations versus commercial formulae

provide advice on animal feeding for all species and conditions applicable in the clinic

read and understand animal food labels

read and understand ration definitions (e.g. 'complete' and 'balanced') and relevant regulations

use literacy skills to read, select and implement policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety, infection control and other clinic policies and procedures; coordinate patient admission and discharge; implement sequenced written instructions; and record patient details accurately and legibly

use oral communication skills/language required to fulfil the job role as specified by the clinic, including negotiating and questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from the owner, and acknowledging and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills required to measure rations and doses

use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

use problem-solving skills to use available resources, prioritise tasks and utilise patient information to provide advice on animal care.

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

animal husbandry requirements

awareness of the components of nutrient measurement, including calories, digestibility and biological value

causes, control and prevention of diseases (e.g. cardiovascular)

clinical pathology tests associated with disease diagnosis (e.g. glucose curve)

clinic policy and procedures related to providing advice

components of animal digestive systems and feeding behaviours, including oral or dental factors, gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, kidneys, hormones, feeding biology and palatability

differing nutritional requirements of differing species

disease processes (e.g. diabetes and pancreatitis)

energy requirements of animals for:

clinical nutrition areas

disease

environmental interactions

gestation and lactation

life stage (e.g. growth, geriatrics, puppy or kitten feeding)

maintenance

obesity control

surgical rehabilitation

working and performance

elements of animal nutrition, including water, protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and energy

factors influencing animal behaviour

nutrition process, including home-prepared rations and commercial formulae.

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.

Animal health advice may include:

animal husbandry:

behaviour

common ailments

housing

local law requirements

nutrition

potential health challenges

responsible pet ownership

routine elective surgery

breeding issues:

artificial insemination

desexing

care of newborn and orphan animals

oestrus cycle

whelping

control of external and internal parasites

disease processes

fees for standard procedures

first aid advice regarding the emergency treatment of animals

optimum health parameters

poisons information

post-operative hygiene, bandage, splint and cast care

potential hazards of the use of restricted agents

pre- and post-operative information

training and socialisation

turnaround times for procedures required

vaccination schedules, including heartworm preventative systems.

Workplace health and safety risks when dealing with animals may include:

animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste

handling of chemicals and medicines

inhalation of aerosol particles

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

release of infective agents (animal and human)

slippery or uneven surfaces

zoonoses.

Animal care product advice may include:

health maintenance and disease preventative programs

internal and external parasite control regimes

non-restricted preparations

selection and use of pet accessories

use of grooming equipment and topical applications

vaccination regimes.

Animal care products may include:

bedding

enrichment tools and toys

grooming aids

handling tools

housing

restraints.

Animal nutritional requirements advice may include:

information on:

additives

adverse reactions

animal maintenance

environmental interaction factors

feeding regimes

feeding levels

ingredient types

lactation and gestation

livestock forage

prescriptive requirements and drug interactions

supplements and commercial foods

surgical rehabilitation

treats

use of home-prepared rations

information on prescribed diets:

diets necessary with disease

vegetarian diets

obesity and weight reduction diets

life stage diets (young, active or old)

clinical nutritional advice:

feeding regimes for:

anorexia

cardiovascular disease

diabetes mellitus

gastrointestinal tract disorders

hospital feeding

intensive care

malnutrition

neoplasia

obesity

oral health

pancreatitis

senior and puppy diets

urinary system disease

urolithiasis.

Inappropriate animal behaviour may include:

aggression

anxiety

barking

destructive behaviour

digging holes

feather picking (birds)

phobias

vocalisation

wind sucking.

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
Evaluation of patient's needs is completed to provide the basis for advice provision. 
Primary care advice is provided to the client as required, noting relevant workplace health and safety requirements. 
Background information on the range of animal care products stocked by the clinic is prepared and documented as required. 
Client requirements are established through discussion and evaluation. 
Specific product advice is provided to clients in accordance with established procedures. 
Relevant data on patient and patient history are collected in accordance with established protocols. 
Basic advice is provided to the owner on the nutritional needs of the animal. 
Details of advice and actions are provided and recorded in clinic records and patient history. 
Types of normal and inappropriate animal behaviour are explained and discussed with the owner. 
Basic advice is provided on techniques to modify inappropriate behaviour. 
Details of advice and strategies are recorded in the patient's history. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMVET409A - Provide specific animal care advice
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

ACMVET409A - Provide specific animal care advice

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: