The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

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

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic) is essential for assessment of this unit

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender

Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:

interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace

scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units

holistic/integrated assessment including:

working within the practice framework

performing a health assessment

assessing the client

planning treatment

providing treatment

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment

Dispensing resources

Relevant texts or medical manuals

Relevant paper-based/video assessment instruments

Appropriate assessment environment

Skilled assessors

Method of assessment

Practical demonstration and observation in the work place (if possible)

Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge

Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice

Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (laboratory). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision

Explanations of technique

Oral questioning and discussion

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Related units:

This unit should be assessed in conjunction with the following related competency unit:

HLTIN301C Comply with infection control policies and procedures

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Common causes of variation and corrective action required

Equipment and instrumentation components, purpose and operation

Factors that affect homœopathic medicines in preparation and storage

Homœopathic medicine dispensing principles and methods

Homœopathic medicine preparation from source materials

Homœopathic pharmacy

Hygiene standards

Legal requirements relating to the prescription of medicines, therapeutic goods administration, OHS, labeling, restricted substances, principles of manufacturing, testing of homœopathic products, quality control procedures

Methods of administration for homœopathic medicines

OHS hazards and controls

Quality characteristics to be achieved

Raw materials segregation purpose and requirements

Recording requirements and procedures

The derivation of materia medica data from provings, clinical and toxicological sources

The effect that incorrect dispensing process can have on the end product

The non-medicinal ingredients used in the preparation of homœopathic medicines

The preparation of dispensing alcohol

The quality and various strengths of alcohol used in preparation and dispensing

Waste handling requirements and procedures

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Access workplace information to identify requirements for the dispensing process

Calculate assay/potency adjustment

Confirm equipment status and condition

Confirm supply of necessary materials and services to the dispensing process

Correctly identify equipment and ingredients for homœopathic medicine preparation and dispensing

Dispense homœopathic medicines in accordance with the order/prescription

Maintain work area to meet clinic standards

Measure and segregate materials

Monitor the dispensing process and equipment operation to identify out-of-specification results or non-compliance. This may include:

ability to carry out routine maintenance

ability to clean and sanitise equipment

equipment faults

labelling

materials faults

measuring devices

service faults

stock flow/quantity

Pack and label dispensed materials

Prepare homœopathic medicines in a range of potency scales (mother tincture, decimal, centesimal, fifty millesimal)

Prepare homœopathic medicines in accordance with official pharmacopœia, clinic guidelines and relevant legislation

Record information

Sort, collect, treat, recycle or dispose of waste, taking into account opportunities to address waste minimisation, environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.

Pharmaceutical ingredients and equipment may include:

Medicinal substance, which may be of animal, mineral, vegetable, or imponderable source

Lactose powder or globules

Medicating alcohol

Distilled water

Mortar and pestle

Measuring equipment

Sterile containers

Labels

Protective clothing

Pharmaceutical guidelines and methodology refers to:

Official pharmacopœia, including the homœopathic pharmacopœia of the USA, the UK, Germany and France

Relevant aphorisms and footnotes in the Organon of Medicine 5th/6th Edition

Trituration

Maceration

Succussion

Serial dilution

Dispensing ingredients and equipment may include:

Medicating potency

Medicinal vehicle

Dispensing alcohol

Measuring equipment

Sterile containers

Labels

Protective clothing

The form of the medicine may include:

Powder

Globule

Pillule

Tablet

Liquid

Cream

Ointment

Pessary

Suppository

Care is taken to prevent contamination means:

One medicine is in use at one time

Medicines are made and prepared over an impervious surface

Direct contact with or olfaction of the medicine is avoided

Objects that come in contact with the medicine are thoroughly cleaned or discarded

Medicines which come in contact with contaminants are discarded

The work space is well ventilated

Clinic guidelines may include:

OHS guidelines

Quality system guidelines

Dispensing procedure

Hygiene and waste guidelines

Stock and storage procedures

Instructions for taking the homœopathic medicine refer to:

Route of administration, eg oral, olfaction, application

Frequency of administration - single dose, repeated doses, intervals between doses

Any other instructions specific to the method of administration eg dilution, plussing

Factors that may interfere with the homœopathic medicine, eg consumption of coffee, alcohol or tobacco, concurrent use of allopathic medications, dental work

The need to report incidences to the prescribing homœopath

Acceptable sources includes:

Australian suppliers listed by the therapeutic goods administration

Reputable overseas suppliers

Substances collected and prepared from natural sources

Labelled correctly means:

According to legislative guidelines

According to clinic requirements

Factors that may have an effect on the storage include:

Proximity to electromagnetic radiation

Exposure to heat above 50(C

Prolonged exposure to sunlight

Exposure to strong odorous substances, eg perfumes, camphor

Workplace information may include:

Details of preparation and dispensing undertaken

Stock documentation

Details of person(s) conducting preparation and dispensing

Dispensing information for prescriptions