The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

clean and disinfect animal housing, treatment area and general clinic areas to maintain clinic hygiene

carry out daily patient treatments and observations

communicate effectively with the veterinarian and follow instructions for food, water and treatment regimes

handle and restrain animals for examination as required

assist in stock control including taking inventory, ordering stock as directed and checking stock when delivered.

The skills and knowledge required to carry out daily clinic routines must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a veterinary practice or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to a range of animals and the relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

third-party evidence

workplace documentation

portfolio.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).

Required skills

maintain the highest standards of hygiene and disinfection at all times to reduce the risks of infection and cross-infection

quickly and accurately measure and monitor the vital signs of animals in care

recognise early signs of clinical cases, such as diarrhoea, pain or unexpected bleeding, and implement appropriate responses

recognise abnormality in any given patient through regular observation

use positive animal behaviour responses

literacy skills to read, select and apply policies and procedures, including OHS and other clinic policies and procedures; follow sequenced written instructions; and record patient details accurately and legibly

oral communication skills/language required to fulfil the job role as specified by the clinic, including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from the owner and consulting with the duty veterinarian

numeracy skills required to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of social, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks

use, and record the use of, chemicals and medicines in accordance with relevant state or territory legislation

use, store and control veterinary medicines in a careful manner.

Required knowledge

animal first aid procedures and the limits (when professional help is not available) to which they should be applied

animal vital signs and expected normal ranges

clinic policies, including OHS requirements

clinic security procedures

consequences of administering prescribed medication to animals

daily clinic routine procedures, including clipping nails, beaks and feathers

disinfectants, cleaning agents and techniques

hazards associated with the use, misuse and spillage of veterinary medicines and chemicals

legislative requirements relating to the handling, storage and security of drugs, including dangerous drugs

patient histories of all patients housed at the clinic

relevant regulations with regard to veterinary medicines and their usage

veterinary terminology pertaining to veterinarian observations of patients.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. 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) may also be included.

Range of animal species may include:

a wide range of animals typically seen in a veterinary clinic:

birds

dogs, cats and horses

small animals (e.g. rabbits, rodents, ferrets and guinea pigs)

wildlife or exotic animals (e.g. amphibians, reptiles and fish).

Clinic facilities may include:

accommodation for a wide range of animals including:

birds

dogs, cats and horses

small animals (e.g. rabbits, rodents, ferrets and guinea pigs)

food-producing animals (e.g. cattle, pigs and sheep)

wildlife or exotic animals (e.g. amphibians, reptiles and fish).

Animal housing may include:

cages, pens, stables and yards

kennels and catteries

other large animal accommodation.

OHS risks when working with animals may include:

animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

handling of chemicals and medicines

gas leakage

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

release of infective agents (animal and human)

slippery or uneven work surfaces

zoonoses.

Daily routine procedures may include:

assistance with:

administering veterinary medicines under veterinary supervision

maintaining fluid therapy lines

clipping nails, beaks and feathers

wound dressing

assistance in the provision of adequate nutritional support

assistance in the application of animal psychological procedures according to individual animal requirements:

provision of comfort (e.g. touching, stroking, speaking, soothing and reassuring)

privacy (e.g. hiding places for wildlife and shy species)

monitoring vital signs.

Forms of medication may include:

antibiotics, anthelmintics, anti-inflammatory drugs and anaesthetics, some of which may be administered only by the veterinarian.

Legislative requirements relevant to medication administration will include:

animal codes of welfare

federal, state and territory veterinary drug requirements.

Veterinary support routines may include:

assistance with:

applying casts

renewing fluid therapy bags or bottles

wound dressings

assisting the veterinarian with:

applying Elizabethan collars

euthanasia.

Security measures may include:

computer passwords

deadlocks

fireproof safe

lighting

locked cabinets for drugs and fireproof safe

locked petty cash tin

outside security firm

security system.