This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide service to customers of the Australian Needle and Syringe Program (NSP). It covers only the provision of free ready-made equipment packs and the acceptance of sealed sharps disposal containers. It requires the ability to identify and act on triggers for referral to a pharmacist for therapeutic advice.

This unit applies to pharmacy assistants working in community pharmacies. They work with some independence, under general supervision and guidance from others, but ultimately under the supervising pharmacist.

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:

provide Australian Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) services to three different customers, and provide information to each on:

content and use of ready-made equipment packs

how to use sharps disposal containers

statistics collected by the NSP

self-referral alcohol and drug support agencies

demonstrate the correct procedures for the return of sharps disposal containers and lodgement in pharmacy yellow sharps bins

collect customer and other NSP statistics and complete one report.

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

public health benefits of needle and syringe programs

operational guidelines of the NSP program and instructions for collecting and reporting NSP statistics

content and use of ready-made equipment packs

safe and hygienic practices for handling returned sharps disposal containers

sources of information on self-referral alcohol and drug support agencies

role boundaries and responsibilities of pharmacy assistants for providing NSP program services, and circumstances which require and trigger referral to a pharmacist

organisational procedures for providing NSP services:

questions that must be asked to collect information about customer needs

collecting and supplying information to an agent acting on behalf of a customer

identifying and acting on triggers for referral to a pharmacist

maintaining privacy and confidentiality of customer information

collecting, recording and reporting NSP statistics

safe handling and disposal of sharps containers.

Skills must be demonstrated in a pharmacy with designated front of pharmacy areas. This can be:

an industry workplace

a simulated industry environment.

Assessment must ensure use of:

ready-made NSP equipment packs containing:

syringes

swabs

filters

a sharps disposal container

sealed sharps disposal containers

large pharmacy yellow sharps bin

personal protective equipment used to handle sharps disposal containers

operational guidelines of the NSP program

documents used to record and report NSP statistics

brochures and leaflets providing information on self-referral alcohol and drug support agencies

organisational procedures for providing NSP services

customers with whom the individual can interact; these can be:

customers in an industry workplace who are served by the individual during the assessment process; or

individuals who participate in role plays or simulated activities, set up for the purpose of assessment, in a simulated industry environment operated within a training organisation.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisation’s requirements for assessors, and:

have worked in the pharmacy sector for at least two years.

Community Pharmacy

Health Care Support