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 workplace

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

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

Oral questioning and discussion

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

Related units:

This unit should be assessed in conjunction with the following related unit:

HLTHIR301B Communicate and work effectively in health

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 alternative and complementary therapies

Ethical issues in body therapies

OHS requirements in the workplace

Philosophical tradition of western and eastern body therapies

Sociology of health and the health care system

The effects of massage on the body surface

The history and development of massage

The philosophies, principles and tools of massage practice

The qualitative, quantitative, cultural and traditional lines of evidence used in massage

The rationalistic, analytical approach to an understanding of disease

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

Correctly identify client information needs

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

Explain relevant products and services

Provide client with required information

Work or model work which demonstrates an understanding of underpinning values and philosophies in the massage 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.

Massage principles include:

Relevant code of ethics or code of conduct documents/policies, regulations and guidelines national, state/territory or local massage therapy organisations and/or associations

Relevant national, state/territory or local government regulations and guidelines

Accepted preventative practices adopted by self or peers to minimise safety hazards and risks in the same or similar situations

Current and past good practice demonstrated by self or peers in the same or similar situation

Individual responsibility to others regarding the proximity of the relationship and reasonable standard of care

Delivering the highest possible professional care to all clients with consideration for the medical, ethical, social and religious needs of the client

Principles of client confidentiality

Respect of boundary issues such as

compliance with industry code of ethics and practice in relation to:

informed consent

duty of care

draping

hygiene

the scope of client/therapist relationships

advertising

maintenance of equipment

social/cultural morals

equal treatment of all clients

psycho-emotional well being of clients

referral of clients who want treatment outside the scope of the available services

dealing appropriately with difficult clients

Major methods of treatment include:

Compressive techniques including digital ischemic pressure

Deep tissue massage techniques

Effleurage including cross over stroke, longitudinal stroking, gliding techniques

Friction techniques

Kneading

Manual lymphatic drainage

Mobilising techniques

Myofascial tension technique

Passive joint movement techniques

Passive soft tissue movement

Percussion techniques

Petrissage

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

Stretching techniques

Temperature therapy

Trigger point release techniques

Vibration

Other techniques in which the practitioner is trained such as:

Shiatsu

Tuina

Acupressure/TCM

Reflexology

Polarity therapy

Cranio sacral

Touch for Health

Magnetic Therapy

Chi Nei Tsang

Alexander technique

Trager approach

Restorative techniques (disability)

Sports therapies

Kinesiology

Hydrotherapy

Integration therapy

TENS

Aromatherapy

Other complementary therapies may include:

Therapies in which the practitioner is trained or informed

Massage assessment techniques may include:

Observation

Discussion

Temperature taking through tactile methods

Pulse taking when required for massage technique

Palpation

Percussion

Range of motion tests

Orthopaedic tests

Assessment of the neural system

Observation of variations of posture

Any other method in which the practitioner has been trained to a competent standard

Procedure which is conducted according to legislative and regulatory requirements

Information on other complementary therapies may include:

Historical development

Current availability

Tools and techniques

Interactions between different therapies

When therapies may be used

Underpinning philosophy

Definition of allopathic and naturopathic approaches is:

Allopathic - the western medical model in which a disease or an abnormal condition is treated by creating an environment that is antagonistic to it, ie, a system that emphasises treatment of disease

Naturopathic - a system of health care that emphasises health maintenance, disease prevention, client education and client responsibility

Relationship between therapies may include:

Contra-indications to treatment

Effects of one treatment over or with another

Treatment according to stage of condition

Enquiries may require explanation of:

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 service

Provision for hospital visits

Appropriate information may include:

Confirmation of appointment date and time

Clinic location and directions

Cost of initial consultation

Payment options

Clinic's 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 and agreed practice

Legal and regulatory guidelines may include:

OHS guidelines

Anti-discrimination legislation

Privacy Act

Infection control

Relevant documentation may include:

Nature of enquiry

Client contact details

Recording of incidents

Appointment details