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:

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

Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic)

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 may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations

Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender

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 and component competency units

holistic/integrated assessment including:

working within the practice framework

performing a health assessment

assessing the client

planning treatment

providing treatment

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

Relevant texts or medical manuals

Relevant paper-based/video assessment instruments

Appropriate assessment environment

Skilled assessors

Method of assessment

Observation in the work place

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

Oral questioning and discussion

Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting. If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision.

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:

A range of therapies

Basic knowledge of philosophical tradition of science / conventional / western medicine

Basic knowledge of sociology of health and the health care system

Basic knowledge of the current political context of health care

Basic knowledge of the history, central philosophies and principles of homoeopathy

Basic knowledge of the practices of other therapies

Ethical issues in medicine

Work health and safety (WHS) requirements in the workplace

Relationship between homœopathy and other therapies

The philosophies, principles and tools of homœopathic practice

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:

Appropriately record details of client enquiries according to clinic guidelines

Communicate essentials of homœopathic practice in one-to-one and group settings

Correctly identify client information needs

Demonstrate communication skills in a one-to-one and group setting

Explain relevant services

Provide client with required information

Work or model work which demonstrates an understanding of underpinning values and philosophies in the homœopathic framework

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.

Definition of homœopathy:

Homœopathy is a system of therapeutics based on the principle of the law of similars. This requires the selection and prescription of a medicine (remedy) that, through prior testing on healthy people and from clinical experience and observation, is known to be capable of producing a set of symptoms most similar to the symptom picture of the client. The medicine is prescribed in the minimum dose required to bring about (stimulate) healing. This therapeutic methodology in no way limits the scope of homœopaths in the provision of ancillary or emergency care, where this accords with homœopathic principles and is required for the well-being of the client.

The central philosophy of homœopathy is based:

The law of similars - the principle that an individual case of disease with a given set of symptoms can be cured by a medicine which is known to produce the most similar set of symptoms when trailed/proven on healthy individuals.

Major method of treatment:

The prescription of a single homœopathic medicine

Other methods of treatment refers to:

Nutritional guidance

Personal hygiene advice

Counselling

Removing obstacles to cure

Other medical therapies

Appropriate homœopathic diagnostic techniques may include:

Homœopathic case taking

Repertorisation

Observation

Physical examination

Specimen collection and testing

Homoeopathic diagnostic tools may include:

Homoeopathic materia medica and/or repertory

Related medical texts

Glucometer/test strips/lancets

Peak flow meter

Stethoscope

Opthalmoscope

Percussion hammer

Transluminator

Thermometer

Sphygmomanometer

Scales

Height measure

Length measure

Urine test stix

Spirometers

Torches

Otoscope

Any other instrument as appropriate

Other therapies may include:

Naturopathy or other alternative/complementary therapies

Osteopathy

Chiropractic

Physiotherapy

Medical

Counselling

Basic information on other therapies may include:

Recommended sources

Basic tools and techniques

Relationship between homoeopathy and other therapies may include:

Contra-indications to treatment

Effects of one treatment over or with another

Treatment according to stage of condition

Interactions between different therapies

When other therapies may be useful

Enquiries may require:

Duration of treatment

Expected treatment outcomes

Possible approaches to treatment

Estimated cost of treatment

Availability of health fund rebates

Work cover eligibility

Professional status of practitioner

Availability of home visits

After hours/locum service

Provision for hospital visits

Appropriate information may include:

Confirmation of appointment date and time

Clinic location and directions

Cost of consultations and/or prescriptions

Payment options

Relevant data may include:

Source of referral

Client questionnaire

Medical reports

Medication

Biological specimens

Clinic guidelines may include:

Procedures and guidelines

Purpose or mission statement

Code of ethics or practice

Level of competency and degree of supervision

Partnership/group decisions, agreed practice

Legal and regulatory guidelines may include:

WHS guidelines

Anti-discrimination legislation

Privacy Act

Infection control

Relevant documentation may include:

Nature of enquiry

Client contact details

Incident reports

Appointment details