The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects of assessment:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Conditions of assessment:

This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture

Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself

or:

accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care

Context of assessment:

Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible

Related units:

This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Basic anatomy and physiology of:

the skin

musculoskeletal system

Relevance of treatment to condition assessed

Basic principles of:

aseptic technique

effective bandaging

infection control and limiting cross infection

Basic pharmacological principles relevant to specific treatments to be initiated

Potential impact of each treatment on client as a whole

Criteria and methods for evaluating effectiveness of care/treatments

Strategies, methods and tools available for self-management of chronic diseases and to address barriers to self-management

Relevant workplace policies, guidelines and legislation, specifically in relation to:

infection control

occupational health and safety

client confidentiality

limits of own authority

referral and follow up of clients

reporting procedures

documentation

Basic newborn and infant care, including:

promotion of breast feeding

growth assessment

correct use of infant formula

referral of problems

Essential knowledge (continued):

Links between environment and health, including:

crowding

clean water

sanitation

food contamination

insect vectors

Basic nature of common diseases, including:

cardiovascular diseases

rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

diabetes

Key elements of accurate reporting via radio/ telephone, in writing and during case discussion

Important elements of self-management and supporting client self-management of chronic conditions, including an understanding of:

attributes of self-management

behavioural change

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Develop and apply knowledge of anatomy and physiology in undertaking clients observations, questioning and measurements to assess health status

Use medical equipment safely and correctly

Identify significant variations from normal

Summarise and communicate health assessment findings

In addition, the candidate must be able to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Work with other members of multi-disciplinary team

Communicate care plan to client, family and carer and check they understand and agree with it

Document care plan in accordance to organisational policy and procedure

Recognise situations requiring immediate or urgent action

Initiate basic life support treatment where required

Support client and carers to implement appropriate self-management strategies and address barriers to self-management in partnership with the health team

Make appropriate referrals, providing accurate and relevant details to clients and referral agencies

Assist clients to access relevant benefits associated with the health care system, including:

Medicare benefits

pharmaceutical benefits

related benefits

Initiate routine aspects of care for limited range of common conditions in line with protocols

Carry out clinical procedures safely, effectively and within guidelines

Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of care/ treatment and quality of life

Recognise appropriate progress in relation to identified criteria for client care plan

Determine further actions to be taken in the context of monitoring and evaluation outcomes

Communicate effectively with clients and maintain client confidentiality

Reflect on and improve own level and application of skills and knowledge to achieve desirable outcomes and maintain own capabilities

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.

Cultural respect

This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance

Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices

Community control

Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process

Supervision

Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing State/Territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements

References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals

A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines

Legislative Requirements

Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'

Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework

Care plan may include:

Clinical treatment (from standard treatment protocols)

Referral for further assessment, counselling and/or treatment

Administration of medicines

Self-management for chronic conditions

Monitoring regime

Evaluation of care

Related health care providers may include:

Personnel internal to the service provider

External health care providers

Other service provider

Standard treatment protocols include:

Written guidelines or orders that support the clinical management of presenting health problems
(e.g. CARPA)

Standard guidelines for infection control and occupational health and safety

Clinical equipment includes:

Thermometers

Stethoscopes

Peak expiratory flow rate meters

Auroscope

Blood glucose testing units

Nebulisers

Vital signs include:

Temperature

Pulse

Blood pressure

Respiratory rate

Initiated action must include:

Application of standard precautions for infection control

Conditions requiring basic life support and urgent referral:

Raised respiratory rate or other signs of respiratory distress

Clinical treatments that may be initiated at this level include:

Splinting

Bandaging

Basic eye and ear health care, including:

ear toilets to clear pus and debris from outer ear

use of appropriate management protocols for ear health

Application of simple wound dressings, including:

cleaning and dressing of wounds using wound management protocols

arrangements for follow up care of wounds and skin infections

Treating head lice, scabies, common cold, diarrhoea

Simple podiatry care and referral to specialised podiatry services as indicated

Assisting diabetic clients to inject insulin

Serious or potentially serious health problems requiring First Aid and/or referral include:

Clinical signs of or susceptibility to serious infection

Elevated blood pressure or pulse-rate

Common sexually transmissible infections

Eye problems, such as:

acute deterioration in visual acuity

sharp or blunt eye trauma

diplopia

unilateral red eye

eye injury relating to hammering or using high speed equipment

chemicals, concrete or lime in the eye

'arc eyes' - welders' flash

Facial and dental trauma

Other conditions requiring prompt action in line with standard treatment protocols include:

Foot infection or ulceration in a person with diabetes

Symptoms of fever

Eye problems requiring first aid

Clients with identified chronic diseases

Clients requiring access dental care

Women with signs and symptoms of imminent childbirth, potentially serious complications of pregnancy and/or post-partum haemorrhage

Clients with fever who are susceptible to serious infection include:

Infants

Elderly

People with chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes, chronic renal failure or hear disease)

People with valvular heart disease

Those with past rheumatic fever

Simple measure to ease symptoms of fever include:

Administration of paracetamol appropriate to age

Undressing and tepid sponging without causing discomfort

Monitoring and review of chronic conditions may include:

Anticipation and recognition of likely signs and symptoms to enable early intervention

Referral to a medical practitioner or other senior health staff

Appropriate actions to be taken when significant variations from normal are found on urine testing include:

Referral to a medical practitioner or other senior health staff

Sending urine samples for further pathology testing (e.g. laboratory microscopy and culture; assay of albumin-creatinine ratio)

Further pathology tests (e.g. blood for diabetes screening when there is glucose on urinanalysis

Actions recommended in:

OATSIH Otitis Media Guidelines

Communicable Disease Network Australia Trachoma Guidelines

Abnormal appearances of tympanic membrane and ear canal include:

Inflamed tympanic membrane

Tympanic membrane perforation

Past tympanic trauma

Discharging perforation

Impacted wax

Foreign body in ear canal

Inflamed ear canal

Ex oma

Ear toilets to clear pus, wax and debris include:

Gentle syringing using warm water or dilute povidone-iodine solution

Dry-mopping using 'tissue paper smears'

Ear drops

Appropriate management of child with trachoma includes:

Antibiotic treatment of:

the affected child

other children in the household and

immediate care-givers

Assistance to access dental care may include:

Liaising with local dental services

Arranging dental appointment

Providing transport

Completing dental assistance scheme forms