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 competency unit should assessed in conjunction with:

HLTAHW516A Provide antenatal health care

HLTAHW517A Prepare for and manage childbirth

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:

Organisation policies and procedures relating to client confidentiality

Role of the Aboriginal Health Worker in counselling and health education

Anatomy/physiology, pharmacology, pathology and basic microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health

Knowledge of microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health and prevention of infection or cross infection

Postnatal nutritional needs of women and infants

Health conditions, obstetric problems and associated issues related to postnatal and infant health

Strategies to:

improve maternal and neonatal health in the community

address clients presenting with postnatal problems

coordinate provision of optimum level of maternal health service delivery

Postnatal medical problems requiring referral

Effective post natal care practices for mother and baby

Relevant assessment methods and use of associated equipment, testing procedures

Relevant treatments, medicines and associated care services available

Risks and contraindications associated with relevant treatments and medication

Realistic expectation of client condition during monitoring of progress

Relevant evaluation criteria for monitoring effectiveness of specific postnatal and infant health management program

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Undertake comprehensive health checks related to postnatal and infant health

Provide information, guidance and support to clients and their families with postnatal and/or infant health issues

Monitor the outcomes of postnatal and infant health care services and make any required revisions to services, care plans or information provided

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:

Recognise situations requiring immediate or urgent action

Work with other members of multi-disciplinary team to ensure actions determined in the client's care plan are carried out and documented

Provide treatment, medicine and other health care services appropriate to postnatal and infant health in a safe and effective manner and within guidelines

Communicate effectively with client to obtain information and ensure understanding of information provided

Liaise between service providers, individuals, families and community groups

Holistically evaluate impact of treatment on client's physical, mental and emotional condition and behaviour

Monitor outcomes of treatment / medication regimes

Evaluate outcome of client's prescribed treatment/ care plan

Evaluate overall effectiveness of care plan

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

Manage community education on maternal health

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

Strategies to improve maternal and/or neonatal health may include:

Collection of maternal and child health data as a basis for preventing, containing or eliminating diseases or conditions causing ill health

Identification of relationships between health and demography, culture, socioeconomic status, general health, obstetric history and health services

Use of a community development approach to devise strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality rates

Antenatal physical assessment includes:

Abdominal palpation to identify foetal lie and presentation

Measurement of fundal height and estimation of expected progression of pregnancy

Perform venepuncture to collect blood for antenatal tests as per procedure manual

Perform an antenatal assessment

Identify all signs/evidence of pregnancy.

Documentation of findings from a physical assessment and follow up as per policy and procedures manual

Issues relating to nutrition may include:

Possible effects for the mother and foetus if diet is inadequate during pregnancy

Advantages of and common myths about breast feeding

Nutritional requirements for babies and toddlers:

promotion of breast feeding

introduction of solids (age at introduction, appropriate foods)

healthy snack feeding for toddlers and preschoolers

avoidance of early childhood caries (baby bottle caries)

Information provided includes:

Normal and abnormal vaginal discharge

Care of the perineum

Episiotomy or caesarean wound and breasts

Resumption of sexual relations

Obtaining baby clothes and nappies

Sources of advice and support

Welfare payments and other financial assistance

Immediate care of the newborn may involve:

Jaundice

Humidicribs

IV infusions

Advice on routine care of the newborn includes:

Umbilical stump

Eye care

Nappy area

Safe sleeping arrangements

Breast feeding

Minor post-natal problems for mother and newborn may include:

For the mother:

breast engorgement

constipation

For the newborn:

sticky eye

nappy rash

Potentially serious health conditions for mother and newborn may include:

For the mother:

fever

mastitis

offensive PV discharge/excessive bleeding

pelvic/abdominal pain

For the newborn:

jaundice

inadequate weight gain

conjunctivitis

umbilical stump infection