CHCAOD003
Provide needle and syringe services


Application

This unit describes the skills knowledge required to determine client needs, provide clean needle and syringe services and offer education on safer drug use to clients.

This unit applies to people working with drug injecting clients in needle and syringe services.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element

1. Determine client needs

1.1 Follow organisation procedures to identify scope of client needs

1.2 Maintain client confidentiality in line with organisation and legislative guidelines

1.3 Assess and respond to any risks to the safety of client, self and others

1.4 Identify and respond to the need for emergency assistance as required

2. Provide clean needles and syringes

2.1 Follow organisation infection control procedures

2.2 Organise and provide equipment based on client needs and organisation procedures

2.3 Monitor client according organisation procedures

2.4 Accurately document details of clean needle and syringe services provided

3. Provide education on safer drug use

3.1 Provide information on safe needle and syringe handling and drug use to users of the service

3.2 Provide clients with relevant and current information on alcohol and other drugs (AOD) and related issues and discuss the issues with them

3.3 Discuss risks and relevant harm minimisation strategies for alcohol and/or other drug use with clients

3.4 Assist clients to contact and use other support services as required

Foundation Skills

The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.