Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide upper body piercing services.
It requires the ability to consult with clients, select tool and jewellery to safely pierce nose, ear cartilage and navel. Upper body piercing service can be provided for a single or multiple area piercings.
This unit applies to beauty therapists who work in beauty salons. In this environment they are part of a team but make independent treatment decisions; demonstrate sensitivity, maturity and confidentiality in their client interactions; and have knowledge across a range of piercing techniques and products. They provide the service within skin penetration guidelines.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for treatment. | 1.1 Access and review client treatment plan if available. 1.2 Check readiness of treatment area and availability of equipment. 1.3 Use energy, water and other resources efficiently during preparation and subsequent treatment process. |
2. Confirm client requirements. | 2.1 Confirm with client piercing requirements and assess areas requiring treatment. 2.2 Obtain proof of age or informed and signed parent or guardian consent for minors as required. 2.3 Identify and explain contraindications to piercing service, and refer client to appropriate professional as required. 2.4 Explain treatment sequence and factors that may restrict treatment. 2.5 Measure treatment site to determine gauge and size of jewellery. 2.6 Confirm jewellery size and style and revised treatment plan, record updates and obtain signed client consent. |
3. Provide piercing. | 3.1 Prepare client and self, and select piercing equipment and products. 3.2 Apply infection control and skin penetration procedures throughout service. 3.3 Position client and self to allow for easy access to treatment site and minimise risk of injury. 3.4 Cleanse and disinfect treatment site and mark up for piercing. 3.5 Confirm placement with client. 3.6 Perform piercing to skin penetration legislation, manufacturer instructions and treatment plan. 3.7. Identify and manage adverse effects. |
4. Review treatment and provide post treatment advice. | 4.1. Evaluate piercings with client. 4.2. Record outcomes of piercing treatment on client treatment plan. 4.3. Provide aftercare advice and recommend products and future treatments. |
5. Clean treatment area. | 5.1. Remove used linen and clean treatment surfaces and equipment according to organisational policies and procedures. 5.2. Dispose of single use equipment according to organisational safety policy. 5.3. Sterilise reusable piercing equipment. 5.4. Restock equipment and products in preparation for next treatment. 5.5. Dispose general and any hazardous waste to minimise negative environmental impacts and according to organisational policies and procedures. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
communicate, follow and adjust treatment plan to provide safe and appropriate upper body piercing services for clients for each of the following:
ala of nose
ear cartilage, any of:
antihelix
antitragus
daith
helix
tragus
navel
design and record treatment plans for each client specifying details of:
aftercare advice
adverse reactions
client name and address
consent form
contraindications
follow up advice
treatment outcomes
piercing sites
procedure followed
type, size, metal and gauge of jewellery used
provide upper body piercing services that demonstrate the following:
accurate advice on care of wound and maintenance of treatment site
consultation with client to confirm selection and placement of jewellery
strategies for reducing client discomfort
placement of jewellery according to client requirements
sterilisation of reusable upper body piercing equipment
selection and application of correct types, metals, sizes and gauges of body jewellery
interact with and reassure client throughout the treatment
present self, according to organisational policy
comply with health, hygiene and skin penetration regulations and requirements.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
state or territory and local health and hygiene and skin penetration regulatory guidelines relevant to providing upper body piercings
legal responsibilities in relation to infection control, sterilising, registration or licensing of business and maintenance of premises
infectious disease transmission routes and prevention of infection transmission as it relates to upper body piercing services
infection control procedures and application of standard precautions as they apply to the provision of upper body piercing services
organisational policies and procedures relevant to providing upper body piercing services:
client record management
equipment use and maintenance
incident reporting
personal hygiene and presentation
presentation of treatment area
skin penetration procedures
waste and hazardous substance disposal
work health and safety
legal and insurance liabilities and responsibilities regarding upper body piercing
scope of practice:
when to refer clients to other practitioners
importance of not stating a diagnosis of a contraindication
cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation principles and procedures
procedures for responding to spills and sharps injury
advantages of single use disposable equipment
manufacturer instructions for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising equipment and products
workplace equipment and product range
anatomy and physiology of the skin and skin structures as they relate to ala of nose, ear cartilage and navel:
effects of upper body piercing on physical structure of the skin
microscopic anatomy of the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis
normal skin response to irritation and trauma
origin and evolution of hypertrophic and keloid scars and abnormal scar tissue
wound healing
areas of body requiring special treatment:
blood supply areas
cartilage
nerves
soft tissue
contraindications that prevent or restrict upper body piercing treatments or require referral to a medical professional and relationship to upper body piercing:
bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral infections
clients under influence of alcohol or drugs
hypertrophic and keloid scarring tendency
non-normal skin
scar tissue and lesions
skin trauma
adverse effects of upper body piercing treatments and required actions:
bleeding
fainting
hypertrophic and keloid scarring
infection
inflammation
care and maintenance procedures for recently pierced sites and jewellery
process, forms and requirements for informed parental consent for minors
sustainable operating procedures for the conservation of product, water and power
aftercare advice and products to care for upper body piercings.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a beauty industry environment; this can be:
a beauty industry workplace or
a simulated beauty workplace set up for the purpose of skills assessment, that provides services to paying members of the public.
Assessment must ensure access to:
paying clients, both new and regular, with upper body piercing requirements, who have the expectation that the services provided reflect those of a commercial business
hand washing facilities:
basin
hot and cold running water
liquid soap
single use towels or hand dryer
relevant workplace documentation:
blank client records
policies and procedures relevant to upper body piercing services
equipment instructions
product instructions and safety data sheets.
Assessment must ensure use of:
a range of body jewellery in sterile packaging
antiseptic and home-care products for care of wound
autoclave equipment, packaging and documentation
sharps container
body piercing equipment:
autoclave
ball holding tweezers
calipers
forceps
iris scissors
needle acceptor tubes
needles
ring opening and closing pliers
cleaning and disinfection products and equipment
individual work station:
adjustable treatment table with safe operator access at head, foot and both sides
individual electricity supply
magnifying lamp
personal protective equipment:
disposable gloves
goggles
products:
aftercare
antiseptic
skin cleansing
swabs
sterile, single use disinfecting skin swabs
sterilised equipment
surgical marking pen
treatment towels or disposable linen supply.
Assessment activities that allow the individual to:
complete upper body piercing within commercially realistic speed, timing and productivity
demonstrate competency in an environment reflective of real work situations
manage tasks and contingencies in the context of the job role.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisation’s requirements for assessors and:
hold a qualification as a beauty therapist
have worked as a beauty therapist for at least three years where they have applied the skills and knowledge of this unit of competency.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement. | |
Skill | Description |
Reading skills to: | interpret, and follow manufacturer instructions and safety data sheets for safe use of cleaning and treatment products and equipment. |
Numeracy skills to: | calculate treatment times, product quantities and price. |
Problem-solving skills to: | identify issues and modify equipment and jewellery to minimise skin damage and client discomfort. |
Self-management skills to: | maintain cultural sensitivity, maturity and confidentiality with clients. |
Sectors
Beauty
Competency Field
Skin Services