Unit of competency details

Descriptor 

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for treatment of clients and negotiate a treatment management plan with them using an aromatic medicine framework

Application 

The application of knowledge and skills described in this competency unit related to functions necessary for working within aromatic medicine

Work at this level may be undertaken independently

This competency unit requires an extensive level of knowledge of essential oils, including those suitable for ingestive purposes and a wide range of health conditions and must be undertaken within relevant legal and regulatory requirements, such as Therapeutic Goods Administration and state/territory drugs and poisons acts and regulations

Employability Skills 

This unit contains Employability Skills

Elements define the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

The Performance Criteria specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element. Terms in italics are elaborated in the Range Statement.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Determine treatment  strategy

1.1 Determine appropriate therapeutic principles  of treatment according to diagnosis of client and within the skills of competence of the practitioner

1.2 Ascertain contra -indications to treatment and possible complicating factors  and modify treatment strategy used according to aromatic medicine principles

1.3 Take into consideration treatment and advice provided by other health care professionals in determining the strategy to be used in treatment

1.4 Select treatment strategy appropriate to client condition and supported on the basis of established aromatic medicine practice

1.5 Take into consideration possible client compliance issues in specific treatment options

2. Discuss the treatment strategy with the client

2.1 Discuss proposed treatment strategy with the client

2.2 Allocate sufficient time to discuss the treatment strategy, appropriate to the client's needs

2.3 Negotiate client compliance 

2.4 Clarify discrepancies  between the practitioner's and the client's perception of the condition

2.5 Communicate any relevant information from medical or diagnostic reports is communicated

2.6 Explain any perceived risks from the client's condition and treatment

2.7 Clarify the responsibilities of practitioner  and client within the treatment plan

2.8 Obtain client consent for treatment strategy

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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 disease states and functional problems of each bodily system
• The principles and practice of treating common conditions
• The active principles of aromatic oils which may be prescribed for treatment of each condition/system
• The principles of formulation (including dosage and duration of treatment)
• Supplementary measures in the management of the condition/system e.g. dietary considerations and exercise
• Major essential oils and aromatic extracts with respect to their use for general symptoms, psychological and physiological indications
• Functional chemical groups of essential oils and aromatic extracts and how to distinguish between them
• The clinical indications of essential oils and aromatic extracts relevant to specific circumstances e.g. infectious diseases, First Aid and injuries
• The interaction of treatments with foods, other herbs, nutritional supplements and drugs
• Allopathic drugs, their classifications, usage and side effects
• Advanced knowledge of medical terminology
• Drug abuse - signs, consequences, treatment and community resources available
• Pharmaco-dynamics of essential oils and aromatic extracts in relation to the potential toxicity of aromatic compounds as related, to dosages, methods of applications and other factors.
• Essential oils and aromatic extracts used in pregnancy and breast feeding
• Essential oils and aromatic extracts used to treat disorders of each system of the body
• Medical reports and diagnostic procedures
• The possible responses to treatments
• Contra-indications of treatment
• The chemistry of essential oils and aromatic extracts and therapeutic properties of specific aromatic compounds
• Plant biology detailing the synthesis of aromatic compounds in plants
• The absorption, biotransformation, excretion and pharmacological effects of aromatic compounds.

continued ...

Essential knowledge  (contd ):

• Drug interactions with essential oils and aromatic extracts
• Knowledge and understanding of methods of preparing treatment and management plans
• The correct preparations required for specific treatment
• Remedies/treatments and dosages used to treat particular conditions
• Legal and ethical considerations in treating clients with essential oils and aromatic extracts
• Lifestyle factors relevant to treatment of specific conditions and diseases
• Possible obstacles to cure
• Community resources and support services

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:

• Apply methods of treating and managing disease process using essential oils and aromatic extracts
• Access and understand reference material on the effects of current conventional drug therapies and their withdrawal
• Access and interpret up-to-date information essential oils and aromatic extracts and practices
• Use interpersonal and questioning skills
• Identify treatment options and establish treatment regimes
• Prepare treatment plans
• Understand and discuss medical reports and other data relevant to the case
• Dispense remedies/treatments
• Prescribe essential oils and aromatic extracts according to the time-frame appropriate to the client condition and the essential oils and aromatic extracts selected, and to the dosage recommended for the client's age
• Demonstrate consideration of the impact of client vitality on selected treatments
• Demonstrate communication and negotiation skills including the ability to communicate with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds
• Provide advice

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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 a range of workplace situations
• Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations
• Evidence is required of both knowledge and skills application
• Where, for reasons of safety, access to equipment and resources and space, assessment takes place away from the workplace, simulations should be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
• Assessment must be undertaken by an assessor who has skills and knowledge to the standard required for recognition by an appropriate aromatherapy peak body
• 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

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

Context of and specific resources for assessment :

• Resources essential for assessment include:

• An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
• Relevant texts or medical manuals
• Documented process to enable the access and interpretation of up to date information
• Relevant assessment instruments
• Appropriate assessment environment
• Skilled and qualified assessors

Method of assessment 

• Observation and practical demonstration in the work place
• Written assignments/projects
• Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice
• Questioning
• Role play simulation
• Explanations for plan preparations
• Written, multiple choice or short answer tests
• Research work
• Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (supervised student clinics). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision

Related units :

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

• HLTARO601B Manage work within an aromatic medicine framework

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

• HLTARO602B Apply an aromatic medicine diagnostic framework
• HLTARO603B Perform aromatic medicine health assessment

RANGE STATEMENT 

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.

Therapeutic principles of aromatic medicine framework refers to :

• Practices, theories and philosophies specific to the use of essential oils and aromatic extracts in the treatment of clients e.g. concurrent, palliative and continuing care and recognise the stage of the client's illness in terms of chronicity, tendency for the condition to degenerate or spontaneously resolve.

Contra -indications to treatment and possible complicating factors may include :

• Acute surgical and medical conditions such as cardiac arrest, acute hypovolaemic shock, paralytic ileus and loss of consciousness
• Traumatic injuries or conditions requiring immediate medical attention
• Life threatening situations
• Personal or life circumstances
• Ability or willingness to comply with treatment
• Allergies/sensitivities
• Past treatment history
• Current conditions/disease state
• Current medications/treatments
• Contra-indications for use of certain excipients and bases

Treatments may include :

• Prescription of essential oils and aromatic extracts
• Dispensing of extemporaneous preparations

Client compliance refers to :

• Ability to follow instructions or suggestions
• Willingness to follow instructions or suggestions

Discrepancies may include :

• Client is unaware of the immediate danger of their condition
• Client is over anxious about their condition
• Client is unaware of maintaining causes acting on their condition
• Practitioner is unaware of some implications of the client's condition
• Practitioner and client have a different view as to what the main problem is

Practitioner responsibilities may include :

• Isolating the sick person
• Notifying doctor about their condition
• Appropriate hygienic procedures
• Notifying state health authorities of notifiable/communicable disease
• Commitment to the treatment plan
• Discussing relevant contra-indications or potential complications to treatment
• Reviewing of treatment plan

Client responsibilities may include :

• Following instruction/advice during and post treatment
• Advising practitioner of any relevant contra-indications or potential complications to treatment
• Advising practitioner of compliance issues
• Commitment to the treatment plan

Treatment evaluation strategies may include :

• Discussing and reviewing of response to treatment
• Reviewing achievement of treatment goals
• Monitoring time-frame for achieving treatment goals