Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

RUV3504A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Monitor and maintain health of companion animals

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency RUV3504A - Monitor and maintain health of companion animals
Description This unit of competency covers the process of monitoring the general health and wellbeing of companion animals, including young animals and those with special needs. Special needs may include aged, sick or injured animals.In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to develop an empathetic understanding of animals in their care, so that stress and discomfort can be minimised.The work functions within this unit require the demonstration of relevant theoretical knowledge and the application of a range of well-developed skills. One would be expected to apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems and take responsibility for ones own outputs and have limited responsibility for the output of others.
Employability Skills Not applicable.
Learning Outcomes and Application Not applicable.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Follow effective personal health management practices
  • Personal hygiene and cleanliness standards are maintained in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS) and organisational policies and procedures.
  • Animal diseases and their impact are identified.
  • Work practices are implemented to protect oneself against, and minimise the spread of, disease.
       
Element: Monitor animal health needs
  • General health and wellbeing of animals are monitored closely.
  • Abnormal animal behaviour or condition is recognised and reported to supervisor.
  • Signs of illness or injury are recognised and reported to supervisor.
  • Sick or injured animals are separated from other animals and cared for in accordance with supervisor or veterinarian advice.
  • Health records are maintained as required in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
       
Element: Administer animal treatments
  • Broad categories of parasitic infestations are identified.
  • Authorised animal treatments are administered as required under supervision.
  • Advice is sought on preventative medicine programs for external and internal parasites and appropriate programs are implemented as required under supervision.
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

What are the critical aspects of evidence required for this unit of competency as a whole?

The critical requirements that are valuable for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

oObserve and monitor the health and general well-being of animals

cCommunicate effectively with clients and staff

mMaintain a hygienic work environment

aAdminister animal treatments as directed

cCreate and maintain an appropriate environment to care for companion animals

mMaintain accurate health records.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit of competency are listed below:listed below and include:

oOrganisational policies and procedures, including OHS and, hygiene standards

relevant lLegislation relevant to the job role

wWorking knowledge of male and female anatomy and physiology

nNormal and/ abnormal animal behaviour for relevant species

cConcept of socialisation

fFeeding and husbandry requirements for hand-rearedartifically raised animals

pProtocols for hazard identification and risk minimisation

tTransmission of diseases between animals

sSigns and symptoms of disease and parasitic infestations

Role of stressorsdisease development.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills are:skills include:

aAbility to apply organisational policies and procedures

ability to iIdentify obvious signs of illness

aAbility to differentiate between critical and non-critical incidents

ability to rRecognise behaviour or /conditions that could be indicative of possible animal health problems

literacy skills to read and follow OHS and waste management procedures and other organisational policies and procedures; select and apply the procedures to perform a range of defined tasks; follow treatment instructions; and record accurately and legibly the information collectedLiteracy skills to read and follow OHS and waste management procedures, other organisational policies and procedures; ability to select and apply the procedures to perform a range of tasks; follow treatment instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected.

oral communication skills / language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from supervisor and consulting with supervisorOral communication skills (language competence) required to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation. Skills include questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from supervisor, consulting with supervisor.

nNumeracy skills required to complete arithmetic calculations and the ability to measure doses

Interpersonal skills required include working with others, and an ability to relate to persons from differing cultural, social and religious backgrounds.

interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds

pProblem- solving skills required include an ability to use available resources and to prioritise daily tasks..

What are the specific resource implications for this unit of competency?

For valid assessment, one must have opportunities to participate in a range of exercises, case studies and other real and simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge to participate in monitorcaring and maintaining the health offor companion animals. They One must also have access to the resources listed below:below that include:

an appropriate companion animal workplace or an environment whichenvironment that reproduces normal workingwork conditions

access to equipment and/orand / or resources normally used in the workplace

access to a range of companion animal species and breeds

organisational policiesy and procedures, including OHS and relevant legislation.

What considerations should there be for consistency in performance?

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and, where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The skills and knowledge required to monitor and maintain the health ofcare for companion animals must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events. For example, tThis could include work within small and large city, regional, and ruralemote pet shops, boarding kennels and catteries; companion animal training, grooming and/orand / or breeding establishments; and mobile companion animal facilities.

What considerations should there be for context of assessment?

Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a companion animal workplace or in a situation whichsituation that reproduces normal workingwork conditions.

There must be access in either situation to the appropriate equipment and/orand / or resources to enable one to demonstrate competency.

What processes should be applied to this unit of competency?

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this unit of competency. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.

1. How can communication of ideas and information (1) be applied?

By discussing aAnimal health and well beingwellbeing issues raised and discussed with supervisor.

2. How can information be collected, analysed and organised (2)?

By maintaining aAnimal health records maintained in accordance with organisational policy and procedurespolicies and procedures.

3. How are activities planned and organised (2)?

Through planning a care program for animals with special needs.

4. How can teamwork (2) be applied?

By working with others to achieve agreed outcomes.

5. How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques (1) be applied?

By administering animal treatments as directed.

6. How can problem-solving skills (2) be applied?

By assessing an animal's' specific needs and developing suitable care programs.

7. How can the use of technology (1) be applied?

By using the internetInternet to research animal behaviour and health issues.

Are there other units of competency that could be assessed with this one?

This unit of competency could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function, for example:

RUV3411A Care for young animals.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Not applicable.

Range of Variables

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this unit may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

What type of OHS procedures would be relevant in this context?

Animal care for companion animals has a range of associated risks from bites, envenomation, kicks or scratches. All duties should reflect an awareness of and a respect for these risks.

The handling of chemicals and drugs requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.

Safe work practices are used in packaging and handling loads including animals and equipment. Appropriate safe handling techniques are used to reduce muscle load on exertion.

Companion animal facilities such as pet shops, aquaria and boarding kennels and catteries expose personnel to risks such as zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human) and chemical or drug spillage. Procedures to reduce the spread of disease may include incident reporting, cleaning, removal of waste and spillage, containment or elimination of risk, the use of personal protective clothing and equipment and seeking advice from supervisors.

What are examples of animal diseases?

Infectious diseases might include bacteria, virus, fungi and internal and external parasites.

Non-infectious diseases might include nutritional, genetic, metabolic, neoplastic, physical traumas, chemical toxicities and allergies.

What may be regarded as abnormal animal behaviour?

Abnormal animal behaviour may include aggression, docility, vocalisation, reaction to humans and behaviour beyond an animal's normal range.

What are signs ofillness or injury?

Signs of illness or injury may include behavioural changes, changes in physical appearance, discharges and changes in appetite, thirst or gait.

What are examples of parasitic infestations?

External parasites might include fleas, mites, lice, ticks, flies and midges.

Internal parasites might include strongyloides and nematodes.

How might animal treatments be administered?

Animal treatments might be administered via tablets, liquids, pastes, topical applications, dressings, powders, rinses, sprays, worming, oral dosing, food and water preparations and injectables.

What are examples of preventative medicine programs?

Preventative programs may include strategic worming, insect control, quarantine and routine faecal examination.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Personal hygiene and cleanliness standards are maintained in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS) and organisational policies and procedures. 
Animal diseases and their impact are identified. 
Work practices are implemented to protect oneself against, and minimise the spread of, disease. 
General health and wellbeing of animals are monitored closely. 
Abnormal animal behaviour or condition is recognised and reported to supervisor. 
Signs of illness or injury are recognised and reported to supervisor. 
Sick or injured animals are separated from other animals and cared for in accordance with supervisor or veterinarian advice. 
Health records are maintained as required in accordance with organisational policies and procedures. 
Broad categories of parasitic infestations are identified. 
Authorised animal treatments are administered as required under supervision. 
Advice is sought on preventative medicine programs for external and internal parasites and appropriate programs are implemented as required under supervision. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

RUV3504A - Monitor and maintain health of companion animals
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

RUV3504A - Monitor and maintain health of companion animals

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: