Application
This unit is intended to build on clinical skills and knowledge developed at Certificate IV level in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Practice) |
Prerequisites
Pre-requisites | This unit must be assessed after successful achievement of pre-requisites: HLTAHW401B Assess client's physical well being HLTAHW403B Plan and implement health care in a primary health care context |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Deliver postnatal health care | 1.1 Make and record observations of mother and infant in line with standard protocols and organisational guidelines 1.2 Provide information and support for self-care and wellbeing in the post-natal period 1.3 Provide advice on routine care of the newborn to mothers 1.4 Implement strategies to establish and support breast feeding 1.5 Discuss with the client the importance of nutrition, exercise, rest, sleep and support with domestic tasks and care of family in the immediate postnatal period 1.6 Identify minor post-natal problems for mother and newborn and provide appropriate advice 1.7 Identify potentially serious health conditions for mother and newborn and refer to senior health staff 1.8 Provide information on contraceptive options |
2. Organise and evaluate maternal health programs | 2.1 Maintain registers of women undergoing postnatal care according to organisational policies and procedures 2.2 Keep schedules of participation in postnatal care and use to organise continuing care for women 2.3 Organise and/or provide reminders, transport and other assistance to attend care according to women's needs 2.4 Provide supervision of other staff participating in provision of postnatal care 2.5 Maintain referral and communication networks with medical staff, specialist obstetricians, midwives, allied health staff, birthing facilities and female community elders 2.6 Keep statistics on attendance for antenatal care and birthing outcomes and use to evaluate maternal health programs |
Required Skills
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: Organisation policies and procedures relating to client confidentiality Role of the Aboriginal Health Worker in counselling and health education Anatomy/physiology, pharmacology, pathology and basic microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health Knowledge of microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health and prevention of infection or cross infection Postnatal nutritional needs of women and infants Health conditions, obstetric problems and associated issues related to postnatal and infant health Strategies to: improve maternal and neonatal health in the community address clients presenting with postnatal problems coordinate provision of optimum level of maternal health service delivery Postnatal medical problems requiring referral Effective post natal care practices for mother and baby Relevant assessment methods and use of associated equipment, testing procedures Relevant treatments, medicines and associated care services available Risks and contraindications associated with relevant treatments and medication Realistic expectation of client condition during monitoring of progress Relevant evaluation criteria for monitoring effectiveness of specific postnatal and infant health management program |
Essential skills: It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to: Undertake comprehensive health checks related to postnatal and infant health Provide information, guidance and support to clients and their families with postnatal and/or infant health issues Monitor the outcomes of postnatal and infant health care services and make any required revisions to services, care plans or information provided 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: Recognise situations requiring immediate or urgent action Work with other members of multi-disciplinary team to ensure actions determined in the client's care plan are carried out and documented Provide treatment, medicine and other health care services appropriate to postnatal and infant health in a safe and effective manner and within guidelines Communicate effectively with client to obtain information and ensure understanding of information provided Liaise between service providers, individuals, families and community groups Holistically evaluate impact of treatment on client's physical, mental and emotional condition and behaviour Monitor outcomes of treatment / medication regimes Evaluate outcome of client's prescribed treatment/ care plan Evaluate overall effectiveness of care plan Make timely and appropriate referrals, providing accurate and relevant details to clients and referral agencies Manage community education on maternal health Reflect on and improve own level and application of skills and knowledge to achieve desirable outcomes and maintain own capabilities |
Evidence Required
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 competency unit should assessed in conjunction with: HLTAHW516A Provide antenatal health care HLTAHW517A Prepare for and manage childbirth |
Range Statement
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 improve maternal and/or neonatal health may include: | Collection of maternal and child health data as a basis for preventing, containing or eliminating diseases or conditions causing ill health Identification of relationships between health and demography, culture, socioeconomic status, general health, obstetric history and health services Use of a community development approach to devise strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality rates |
Antenatal physical assessment includes: | Abdominal palpation to identify foetal lie and presentation Measurement of fundal height and estimation of expected progression of pregnancy Perform venepuncture to collect blood for antenatal tests as per procedure manual Perform an antenatal assessment Identify all signs/evidence of pregnancy. Documentation of findings from a physical assessment and follow up as per policy and procedures manual |
Issues relating to nutrition may include: | Possible effects for the mother and foetus if diet is inadequate during pregnancy Advantages of and common myths about breast feeding Nutritional requirements for babies and toddlers: promotion of breast feeding introduction of solids (age at introduction, appropriate foods) healthy snack feeding for toddlers and preschoolers avoidance of early childhood caries (baby bottle caries) |
Information provided includes: | Normal and abnormal vaginal discharge Care of the perineum Episiotomy or caesarean wound and breasts Resumption of sexual relations Obtaining baby clothes and nappies Sources of advice and support Welfare payments and other financial assistance |
Immediate care of the newborn may involve: | Jaundice Humidicribs IV infusions |
Advice on routine care of the newborn includes: | Umbilical stump Eye care Nappy area Safe sleeping arrangements Breast feeding |
Minor post-natal problems for mother and newborn may include: | For the mother: breast engorgement constipation For the newborn: sticky eye nappy rash |
Potentially serious health conditions for mother and newborn may include: | For the mother: fever mastitis offensive PV discharge/excessive bleeding pelvic/abdominal pain For the newborn: jaundice inadequate weight gain conjunctivitis umbilical stump infection |
Sectors
Not Applicable
Employability Skills
This unit contains Employability Skills |
Licensing Information
Not Applicable