Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify, assess and implement care related to the growth and development, and to promote wellbeing for, children from birth to 5 years of age.
The unit applies to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers who are working with families and children within a primary health care context.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria specify the level of performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Assess current child physical health and wellbeing | 1.1 Consult family or carer regarding child, family and social history 1.2 Review documentation relevant to child’s physical and emotional health 1.3 Conduct a full assessment of the child according to organisation procedures 1.4 Identify normal and abnormal findings in conducting child health assessment 1.5 Recognise and respond to indicators for potentially serious health concerns according to standard treatment in line with protocols 1.6 Record information according to organisation guidelines |
2. Develop a health care plan | 2.1 Identify physical and emotional health needs of infants and children 2.2 Discuss and confirm child health requirements of the health care plan with primary health care team and/or supervisors 2.3 Work collaboratively with families or carers, the multidisciplinary team, organisations and agencies to develop a health care plan 2.4 Identify appropriate health care activities to include in plan 2.5 Develop plans according to standard treatment protocols, work roles and legislative frameworks 2.6 Discuss health care plans and possible options with parents or carers and where possible, with the child to support understanding and cooperation |
3. Deliver health care to children according to health care plan | 3.1 Provide care according to the child health plan and client requirements 3.2 Refer to standard treatment protocols, own work role and scope and legislative frameworks to implement the care plan 3.3 Implement immediate and appropriate actions in response to relevant child health conditions in line with standard protocols 3.4 Provide health education to family or carers and encourage questions to support understanding 3.5 Where possible, encourage the child to ask questions about own health to support the child’s own understanding and involvement in health care |
4. Monitor and review continuing care for children | 4.1 Use regular appointments and checkups to monitor the progress of the health care plan and health of the child 4.2 Discuss outcomes of health checks with primary health care team to identify required changes to health care plan 4.3 Ensure continuing health care plans are made to reflect ongoing monitoring of health and continued care |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.
There must be evidence that the candidate has:
assessed the physical and emotional wellbeing of at least three children aged birth to 5 years by:
- engaging and communicating with each child’s family in a culturally appropriate and safe manner to gather information about the child
- communicating in a safe and welcoming manner with each child
- undertaking an assessment of the child’s physical health
- completing an assessment of the child’s emotional health
- interpreting assessment results and responding accordingly to results outside of normal ranges
- identifying areas to address in each child’s health care plan
developed a health care plan for at least three children aged birth to 5 years by:
- consulting with relevant staff and colleagues on appropriate health care for the child
- discussing health needs of the child with the family
provided health care according to the health care plan for at least three children aged birth to 5 years, including;
- referring the client to appropriate health care providers according to the child’s needs
- encouraging the child and family to ask questions about the health care being delivered
monitored health care of at least three children aged birth to 5 years and made adjustments to the health care plan according to child’s progress and health.
Evidence of 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:
application of universal precautions
workplace health and safety issues
physical and cognitive developmental milestones
communication with families and children
assessment of the physical wellbeing of children
child social and emotional wellbeing assessment
assessment and management of the following common child health conditions:
- anaemia
- respiratory conditions including chest infections, viruses and asthma (acute and ongoing management)
- oral health and dental problems
- diarrhoea, acute and persistent
- ear and hearing problems including examination, assessment and management
- rashes and skin conditions
- urinary problems
- cardiac including rheumatic heart disease and acute rheumatic fever
health care which includes growth monitoring
assessment and management of failure to thrive and growth faltering
language and communication assessment and referral procedures
childhood immunisation schedule and requirements
dehydration and rehydration requirements in unwell children
assessment and management of serious conditions for children birth to five years – the unwell child and the warning signs
management of the febrile child
child safety and protection including child neglect, physical and emotional abuse and sexual abuse; non accidental injuries in children
Charter on Rights of Children and Young People in Health Care Settings in Australia
child health promotion strategies including:
- immunisations
- disease prevention and hygiene-
- mental health promotion
- early learning promotion
- exercise and physical wellbeing
organisation policies and procedures relating to child health and wellbeing assessment, planning and implementing health care.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated working:
in a health service or centre
as part of, and under the supervision of, a multidisciplinary primary health care team
with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.
In addition, simulations and scenarios must be used where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely. These are situations relating to emergency or unplanned procedures where assessment in these circumstances would be unsafe or is impractical.
Simulated assessment environments must simulate the real-life working environment where these skills and knowledge would be performed, with all the relevant equipment and resources of that working environment including diagnostic tools for child health assessments.
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Assessment must be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in this unit of competency and who is:
an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker
or:
accompanied by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care.
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. |