Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to promote spa treatments and create and maintain a spa services environment.
It requires the ability to prepare spa work areas, recommend suitable spa therapies to clients, monitor the spa environment, complete shutdown of treatment rooms and equipment, and promote environmentally sound spa practices.
This unit applies to beauty and spa therapists who work in day, destination and resort spas. In this environment they work in a team but are responsible for individual client recommendations and for maintenance of the spa area.
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 spa work environment. | 1.1 Ensure water use and water hygiene complies with requirements. 1.2 Clean, operate and maintain equipment according to manufacturer instructions. 1.3 Report malfunctioning equipment. 1.4 Set up designated wet rooms safely. 1.5 Ensure availability of sufficient clean linen, towels and spa products to avoid treatment disruption. 1.6 Set lighting, temperature and relaxation music for the spa. |
2. Promote spa therapies to clients. | 2.1 Welcome client to salon consistent with salon branding and market position. 2.2 Display courteous and respectful behaviour towards all clients. 2.3 Explain to client features and benefits of wet and dry spa therapies, treatments and complementary products. 2.4 Show client spa environment and explain spa etiquette. |
3. Monitor spa environment. | 3.1 Implement spa procedures to minimise use of energy, products and water during treatments, and to avoid water contamination. 3.2 Check and maintain water quality and hygiene. 3.3 Co-ordinate with colleagues to plan and maintain the spa environment. 3.4 Maintain service culture and relaxing ambience of the spa environment. |
4. Complete spa shutdown. | 4.1 Clean and disinfect spa equipment and treatment tables. 4.2 Ensure equipment and treatment areas are shut down according to spa policies and procedures. 4.3 Replenish treatment areas as required. 4.4 Dispose of general and hazardous waste to minimise negative environmental impacts and according to organisational policies and procedures. 4.5 Notify colleagues of availability of vacated treatment area. |
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:
integrate spa technical skills and work in a spa services environment for a minimum of six, three hour work periods that individually or in combination, demonstrate:
preparing, cleaning and shut down of:
steam equipment
hydro tub
Vichy shower, or wet table, or spa capsule
hot towel cabinets
wet areas
testing water and chemical levels
maintaining lighting, temperature, spa environment and spa etiquette to ensure spa ambience
monitoring environmental impacts of a spa environment and identifying opportunities for reducing environmental impacts
select, sequence, and promote to four different clients:
wet treatments:
steam room
hydro tub
Vichy shower, or wet table, or spa capsule
dry treatments:
body exfoliation
body wraps
massage
present self, according to organisational policy.
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 regulations and requirements relevant to providing spa treatments
organisational policies and procedures relevant to providing spa therapies:
client record management
equipment use and maintenance
incident reporting
linen use and laundry procedures
personal hygiene and presentation
presentation of treatment area
sustainability and environmentally sound practices:
energy efficiency
waste minimisation and disposal
recycling
water efficiency
work health and safety
legal and insurance liabilities and responsibilities regarding spas and spa therapies
definition of spa:
healing through water
philosophy of current spa movement
spa history and development:
origins of hydrotherapy
overseas trends
development of current spa movement
cultural healing traditions
theories and principles of spa therapies:
Thalassotherapy
Balneotherapy
Kneipp therapy
detailed knowledge of the features and benefits of wet and dry room therapies
properties of water:
heat capacity
heat vaporisation and density
ph scale
characteristics of water:
buoyancy
turbulence
chemical properties of water:
spa behaviour of water under different conditions
benefits of water in spa treatments
chemicals appropriate to spa environment to maintain water hygiene
water hygiene:
infection and cross infection
cross contamination
methods of disinfection and sterilisation
efficient and sustainable procedures for water supply
definition of signature treatments
management of adverse reactions to spa treatments:
dizziness
nausea
skin irritation
headache
factors that contribute to spa ambience:
lighting and colours
relaxation background music or sounds
quiet areas and general noise management
perfumed oils or candles
decaffeinated and herbal refreshment
cool drinks
snack service.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a beauty industry or spa environment; this can be:
an industry workplace or
a simulated 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 different spa treatment requirements, who have the expectation that the services provided reflect those of a commercial business
relevant workplace documentation:
equipment instructions
product instructions and safety data sheets
organisational policies and procedures relevant to spa therapies.
Assessment must ensure use of:
cleaning and disinfection products and equipment
computer with salon software
hydro tub
reception area
relaxation area
shower change facilities
spa equipment
spa menu
steam equipment
Vichy shower, wet table or spa capsule
water treatment chemicals
wet and dry treatment rooms.
Assessment activities that allow the individual to:
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 or spa therapist
have worked as a beauty or spa 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 |
Oral communication skills to: | liaise and negotiate with team members to ensure smooth operation of spa. |
Initiative and enterprise skills to: | promote spa treatments to increase base clientele. |
Teamwork skills to: | work cooperatively with colleagues to avoid treatment delays and overbooked treatment rooms. |
Technology skills to: | operate and maintain spa equipment. |
Sectors
Beauty
Competency Field
Spa Services