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

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

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

This unit is best assessed on the job

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:

Community reporting processes for repairs and maintenance requirements

Community processes for funding repairs and maintenance

Durable health hardware items appropriate to the region e.g. taking into account harsh water supply, etc.

Knowledge of what can fail in the house and why e.g. poor design, non-durable materials such as plastic shower grates, etc.

Philosophies and principles in relation to housing for health (e.g. principles of UPK, including recent priorities)

Roles and responsibilities of the worker and relevant others in relation to the provision of functional and durable health hardware in the household and community

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:

Apply problem solving skills in relation to identifying gaps and "looking for patterns" if necessary

Effectively network and communicate with householders, community members, employing organisation, key people, outside agencies and relevant others

Identify gaps that may exist in relation to the provision of ongoing, functional and durable health hardware in the community through the use of problem solving processes

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.

Methods may include:

Relevant housing authority surveys

Community board/repairs and maintenance sheet for householders and community members to report their own repairs and maintenance requirements

Indigenous environmental health worker reporting repairs and maintenance noticed as part of on the job role

Householders and community members reporting repairs and maintenance requirements to the indigenous environmental health worker

Ongoing provision of functional and durable health hardware items may refer to, but is not limited to some of the following:

Functional household plumbing and fixtures

Functional septic tanks and sewerage systems

Functional hot water service

Functional washing machines

Functional basins for washing children under 5 years old

Functional and safe electrical circulatory in the household

Adequate food preparation surfaces and storage areas/cupboards

Adequate fences and shelters (wind breaks) in the yard area/community

Reported may be:

Verbally in either first language or English

Written in either first language or English ie: notes, checklists, etc.

Equipment/materials for presentations may include:

Community council

Community clinic

Other employer bodies/agencies

Diagrams

Gaps may include:

Repairs and maintenance problems not being addressed or dealt with in a reasonable time frame of reporting a fault or problem

Constant surveying without service

Lack of community support for reporting processes

Replacement parts and repairs being made with cheap and non-durable health hardware items

Poor initial design and construction to begin with, e.g. non-graded wet areas, living areas constructed too close to wet areas, etc.

Lack of community funding to address repairs and maintenance requirements

Additional observations may include:

Looking for patterns e.g. are other households/community members having the same problem with the same piece of health hardware

Observing to see if householders/community members have a need for specific health hardware items that may not exist e.g. shelving and food storage cupboards, washing machines, etc.

Roles and responsibilities of the worker may include:

Obtaining information on alternative/durable health hardware items

Encouraging community members to support repairs and maintenance reporting methods if required through education and community empowerment

Inquiring about funding to assist with the provision of ongoing repairs and maintenance and/or durable health hardware items

Ordering in supplies if necessary

A work plan may be:

Time table/planner

Prioritising tasks and issues to be addressed

Determining points of contact/networks

Key people and outside agencies may include:

Centre for Appropriate Technology

Environmental Health Officers

Housing and Local Government

Aboriginal Health Workers

Elders

Other community workers

Government agencies

Advice and/or support may be:

Information on where to go, or who to contact to address particular or specific issues of concern

Information and/or advice on durable health hardware items appropriate for the region (community, outstations)

Cost of durable health hardware items

Referral may be:

Verbally in either first language or English depending on the target group and whether or not the referrals take place internally within the community or outside the community to relevant others

Written correspondence, i.e.: faxes, letters, etc.

Relevant others:

Housing Officers/managers

Community council

Housing and Local Government

Contractors

Follow up procedures may include:

Monitoring reported repairs and maintenance requirements to ensure that problems are being adequately addressed and dealt with

Ensuring that the work is being done within an appropriate time frame, particularly for urgent repairs and maintenance

Ensuring that all repairs and replacement parts are being made with durable health hardware items appropriate for the region

Monitoring community reporting processes