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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:

Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace is essential for assessment of this unit

Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of practice environments

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

Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:

interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace

scope of practice as detailed in the qualification

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible

Method of assessment

Observation in the work place (if possible)

Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge

Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

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:

All relevant statutory and regulatory requirements which affect the proposed small business including relevant child protection legislation

Appropriate practices to ensure efficient use of power and other resources

ATO requirements

Business risks and measures to manage or minimise risks

Business systems

Contractual rights and responsibilities

Effective monitoring systems

Forms and sources of finance

Industrial awards and agreements

Insurance requirements

Key operational concepts and procedures

Legal and regulatory aspects of employing or contracting human resources

Legal rights and responsibilities

Meeting procedures

Methods of monitoring performance

Operational factors relating to the business (provision of professional services, products)

Options for meeting human resource requirements and the implications of each option

Planning and control systems (sales, advertising and promotion, distribution and logistics)

Production and planning techniques

Record keeping duties

Specialist services available and charges

Stock control methods and procedures

Support networks

Various methods producing financial reports, payroll procedures and employee statutory records

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability 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:

Accurately record financial transactions

Apply time management skills

Assess competencies of clinic staff appropriate to size/scope of clinic

Assess human resources appropriate to size/scope of clinic

Demonstrate self awareness skills

Manage finances

Manage meetings

Prepare and manage payroll and maintain payroll records

Prepare business plans

Prepare cash flow forecasts

Promote, implement and manage work attitudes and practices that reflect awareness of the importance of a range of aspects of sustainability

Provide clinic guidelines, policies and procedures

Review clinic job descriptions and hierarchical structures

Review training/career pathway strategies appropriate to size/scope of clinic

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.

Business plan may include information on:

Budget forecasts

Business goals and objectives

Legal structure

Management strategies

Marketing strategies

Required resources

Specialist services to be provided or recruited

Staffing requirements

Statutory and regulatory compliance

Strategies to make the organisation child safe and child friendly

The comprehensiveness and extent of detailed documentation required in the business plan will depend on a range of factors which may include:

Different stages in the development of a business

Level of risk involved including the provision of services to clients under 18 years of age on a one to one basis

Market focus of the business

Need to raise finance and requirements of lenders

Proposed size and scale of the business

In accordance with requirements for the scale of the operation policies and procedures may include:

Child protection requirements including background checks

Child safe, child friendly policy including code of conduct, managing complaints

Communication procedures

Documentation procedures

Emergency procedures

Financial procedures

Human resources policies

Policy and procedure guidelines developed and/or provided by industry associations

Security procedures

Stock control procedures

Treatment protocols

Required resources may include:

Administrative equipment and materials

Communications equipment

Marketing materials

Physical location

Practice/medical equipment

Staff

Statutory and regulatory requirements may include local, state and national legislation and regulations affecting business operations such as:

Anti-competition/monopoly and consumer-based legislation

Anti-Discrimination Act

Business registration

Codes of practice standards

Equal Employment Opportunities Act

Fire, WHS and environmental legislation

Planning and other permissions

Relevant state and territory child protection legislation

Taxation, copyright and trademark regulations

Therapeutic Goods Act

Manage the finances of the business includes monitoring and making decisions on:

Assets

Current financial state of the clinic (or owner/operator)

Financial inputs required (sources and forms of finance)

Financial performance to date (if applicable)

Likely return on investment

Projections of likely financial results (budgeting)

Risks and measures to manage or minimise risks

Financial documentation may include:

NB These will vary in complexity according to the scale of the business and the level of support employed from accountants and financial consultants

Asset registers

Banking documentation

Costing procedures

Credit transactions

Creditors and debtors systems

Draft financial forecasts/budgets

Payroll records

Petty cash

Stock records

Financial reports may include:

NB These will vary in complexity according to the scale of the business and the level of support employed from accountants and financial consultants

Budget reports

Cash flow forecasts

Detailed ledger accounts

Profit and loss statements

Reconciliations

Taxation documentation

Operational strategies may include:

Daily operation procedures

Environmental strategies

Management and administrative systems and procedures

Marketing approaches, which may include advertising a child friendly environment

Office systems

Staffing procedures

Marketing strategies may include:

Advertising

Development of marketing/promotional materials, including child friendly literature

Pricing strategies

Promotional and public relations activities

Publicity and media relations

Stock may include:

Information materials provided to clients

Materials and equipment required to prepare and dispense medicines

Materials and equipment used in the treatment of clients

Medicinal preparations provided to clients Stationery and administrative supplies

Other promotional materials

Support strategies may include:

Catering to personal limitations

Collegial support group or network

Defining boundaries

Gaining adequate supervision

Maintaining discussions with colleagues

Personal or professional support

Setting, reviewing and adjusting goals

Human resource strategies may include:

NB These will vary in detail according to number of personnel involved either as practitioner partners or employees

Implementation of statutory requirements

Performance management strategies

Personnel documentation

Planning and facilitation of meetings

Recruitment targets, policies and procedures

Support networks

Time and stress management

Training and assessment

Workplace communications

Work health and safety (WHS)

Employee records may include:

Employee records (including tax file number, remuneration, leave and training records, records of disciplinary action, time and wages sheets)

Job/position descriptions

WHS records

Prohibited persons declaration when working with people under 18

Records of taxation and superannuation payments made

Relevant awards and/or industrial agreements.

Manage diversity involves:

Valuing and utilising the different skills, backgrounds and capabilities of self and staff and developing strategies to encourage and enable their effective integration into the business. Diversity may include for example:

Competencies

Culture

Education

Gender

Language

Network of contact

Work history

Work preference