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

This unit of competency could be assessed by establishing a quality system for an organisation providing NatHERS assessment services, assessing the service quality of the organisation, and implementing approaches for promoting quality improvement within the organisation.

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

A person should demonstrate the ability to:

establish and maintain a quality system for an organisation providing NatHERS assessment services

assess the services of an organisation providing NatHERS assessment services, including identifying shortfalls in performance against quality standards and specifying appropriate corrective actions

promote quality improvement within an organisation providing NatHERS assessment service, including engaging staff and clients in identifying opportunities for quality improvement and developing resourced plans for implementing suggestions for quality improvement.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this unit:

must be in the context of the work environment

may be conducted in an off-site context, provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills

must meet relevant compliance requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include:

relevant codes, standards and government regulations

computer equipment suitable to collect, collate and analyse information relating to quality systems for organisations providing NatHERS assessment services

technical reference library with current publications on quality management and the administrative and governance arrangements for NatHERS.

Method of assessment

Assessment for this unit must verify the practical application of the required skills and knowledge, using one or more of the following methods:

written and/or oral assessment

observed, documented and/or first-hand testimonial evidence of the candidate:

establishing a quality system for an organisation providing NatHERS assessment services

assessing the service quality of the organisation

implementing approaches for promoting quality improvement within the organisation.

Guidance information for assessment

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function.

Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.

Assessment processes and techniques should, as far as is practical, take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.

Required skills

communication skills to interact with clients, staff and other stakeholders in an ethical manner from diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds

data analysis skills to interpret data relating to organisational quality system

decision-making and problem-solving skills to make suggestions for addressing shortfalls in the quality of processes, products and services

literacy skills to:

read and interpret a variety of texts, including legislation, regulations and quality documentation

write complex flow charts in order to identify and distill information

prepare detailed text identifying specific courses of action and detailing alternatives after defining the needs of the audience and the purpose of the information

numeracy skills to:

analyse errors

conduct image analysis

estimate costs

interpret and analyse statistics

perform mental calculations

record and collate quality-related data

undertake complex computations

planning, organising and scheduling skills to monitor quality processes

research skills to identify, locate, collate and evaluate evidence used in quality processes

technology skills to use relevant software, hardware and equipment to collect, collate and analyse information relating to quality systems for organisation providing NatHERS assessment services

time-management skills to efficiently and effectively plan, implement and monitor quality processes

Required knowledge

building thermal performance standards, including the National Construction Code energy efficiency requirements

commonwealth, state and territory, and local government legislation and regulations impacting on thermal performance assessment relating to:

anti-discrimination and equal opportunity

building and construction

building thermal performance

consumer protection, fair trading and trade practices

employment and industrial relations

energy conservation

environment protection

occupational licensing

privacy

sale and lease of residential property

work health and safety

NatHERS:

accredited software

administrative and governance arrangements

assessor accreditation

assessor accrediting organisations

regulatory framework

quality management:

clients’ and other stakeholders’ expectations regarding quality

current developments, tools and techniques in quality management

key concepts:

philosophies of quality management

principles of quality management

quality management cycle

tools of quality management

system:

corrective actions that may be taken to address shortfalls in performance

documentation requirements of quality systems, including levels and their roles in the functioning of the system, including the requirement for effective and secure quality record-keeping systems

feedback systems and strategies

legal and regulatory requirements

monitoring systems and strategies

plan

quality marks, awards and accreditation

recording systems and strategies

review and maintenance of quality system

role of audit in quality systems

software packages

standards

techniques for gathering sufficient, valid information to evaluate whether processes and products/services are meeting the required quality standards

risk management principles

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.

Quality standards may include:

Australian standards

building codes and standards, including the National Construction Code

codes of practice

international standards

legislative requirements

NatHERS accreditation and licensing requirements

NatHERS protocols

NatHERS regulatory framework

occupational, health and safety legislation

organisational policy and procedures

organisational values, aims and objectives

quality marks or awards

standard operating procedures.

Feedback may include:

formal processes

informal processes.

Communication may include:

awards

bulletins

electronic communication

face-to-face discussion

meetings of quality teams

newsletters

problem-solving sessions

quality meetings

training.

Relevant personnel may include:

contractors

management

NatHERS assessors

supervisors

suppliers

work teams.

Monitoring activities may include:

audits

feedback from stakeholders

reviews

statistical collection and analysis.