This unit is intended to address skills and knowledge required by those working with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities to deliver primary health care services at Certificate IV level

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Provide information and support related to palliative care

1.1 Provide accurate information to the community about the principles underpinning a palliative approach to health care

1.2 Promote and respect the role of older people as elders and custodians of cultural knowledge

1.3 Discuss the relevance and appropriateness of palliative care with the community

1.4 Provide accurate information to the community about available palliative care services and resources in conjunction with associated medical and specialist advice and services

1.5 Provide clients with advice on healthy living matters

1.6 Conduct community workshops/discussions about health issues affecting the frail, aged and disabled

1.7 Identify available support for clients in the palliative stages of illness and their families/carers

1.8 Encourage family and community support for frail and aged clients

1.9 Assist carers of clients to make appropriate appointments with specialists and other agencies

1.10 Support clients and families in accessing HACC programs, respite care and long-term residential aged care options according to need

1.11 Provide support and assistance to families coping with grief and dying, according to identified needs and cultural protocols

2. Follow-up palliative care programs

2.1 Evaluate palliative care programs in line with organisation guidelines and community requirements

2.2 Maintain client confidentiality in line with organisation guidelines

2.3 Seek respite for carers and organise as required and where possible

2.4 Contribute to the development of networks to support the palliative care program

2.5 Advocate on behalf of, and at the request of, clients with other internal and external service providers in line with organisation guidelines

2.6 Implement strategies to address health issues of frail and aged clients in line with community requirements and organisation guidelines

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:

Aims, principles and philosophies of a palliative approach as defined by WHO

Assessment criteria to determine palliative care needs of clients and family

Organisation policies and protocols relevant to palliative care, including client confidentiality

Myths associated with approaches to pain relief and comfort

Safety, security and emotional risks associated with palliative care

Knowledge of symptoms and signs that suggest a need for further assessment and/or treatment of frail and/or aged clients

National Aboriginal Health Strategy

Organisation policies and procedures relating to the role of the Aboriginal Health Worker in palliative care support and education

Strategies to:

improve health of frail and aged clients in the community

address frail and aged clients presenting with health problems

coordinate provision of optimum level of health service delivery to frail and aged clients

Relevant evaluation criteria for monitoring effectiveness of health care program for frail and aged clients

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Communicate effectively in a group and one-on-one environment to promote healthy practices and discuss health issues

Provide accurate and relevant information and guidance about palliative care in line with identified individual and community needs

In addition, the candidate must be able 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:

Sensitively and respectfully communicate with clients and their families regarding the palliative approach

Communicate effectively with client to obtain information and ensure understanding of information provided

Support the provision of an environment that ensures clients and their families are able to undertake a palliative approach to palliative care

Identify and document cultural issues that may impact on a palliative approach

Initiate problem solving processes to resolve issues as necessary

Liaise between service providers, individuals, families and community groups

Provide community education on palliative care

Identify own attitudes to a palliative approach and end-of-life care and reflect on and improve own level and application of skills and knowledge to achieve desirable outcomes and maintain own capabilities

Work with a team to deliver effective health promotion and education for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities and clients using appropriate facilitation, problem solving and instructional practices

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 of assessment:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

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

Conditions of assessment:

This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture

Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself

or:

accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care

Context of assessment:

Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible

Related units:

This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application

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.

Cultural respect

This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance

Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices

Community control

Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process

Supervision

Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements

References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals

A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines

Legislative requirements

Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'

Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework

Strategies to address health issues of frail and aged clients may include:

Collection of data as a basis for preventing, containing or eliminating diseases or conditions causing health problems.

Identification of relationships between health and nutrition, demography, culture, socio-economic status and general health.

Use of a community development approach to devise strategies to improve health.

Palliative approach to health care includes:

Maximising self-care and self-determination

Recognising clients need for pain relief

Recognising the signs that death may be imminent

Assisting in the psychological and spiritual aspects of care

Providing a support system for clients and family

Participating in a team to address needs of the family and wider community

Accessing professional advice from a specialist as required

Organisational understanding of the aim and impact of palliative care on clients and staff

Identifying the resident and family as the unit of care

This unit contains Employability Skills