Unit of competency details

Descriptor 

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide treatment and manage the case according to the philosophy and practices of the homœopathic framework

Application 

This unit applies to work in homœopathy

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. Provide homœopathic treatment

1.1 Provide homœopathic medicines according to the client's phase of disease and presenting complaint(s)

1.2 Explain instructions for taking the homœopathic medicine , and negotiate if required

1.3 Explain factors which may interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment 

1.4 Ensure client consent for treatment 

1.5 Request client to monitor responses to the homœopathic medicine  and to contact practitioner as required

1.6 Explain the time, location and purpose of future sessions to the client

1.7 Document treatments, recommendations and arrangements for review according to clinic guidelines 

2. Advise and resource the client

2.1 Provide the client with information relevant to their treatment plan  and required participation

2.2 Answer client queries with clarity, using the appropriate language

2.3 Use appropriate interpersonal skills when explaining treatment plans and recommendations to the client

2.4 Promote client independence and responsibility in treatment wherever possible

3. Manage and review treatment

3.1 Monitor responses to treatment and manage aggravations promptly  if necessary

3.2 Review responses to the homœopathic  medicine against therapeutic expectations and record according to clinic guidelines 

3.3 Evaluate progress with the client

3.4 Review previous treatment plan

3.5 Evaluate need for ongoing and /or additional treatment 

3.6 Negotiate changes to the treatment plan with the client to ensure optimal outcomes

3.7 Instigate additional treatment or referral for further examination

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:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Case analysis and management according to homœopathic principles
• Common causes of variation and corrective action required
• Disease processes and the natural history of disease
• Equipment and instrumentation components, purpose and operation
• Equipment specifications and manufacturers guidelines
• Equipment testing procedures
• Factors that affect homœopathic medicines in preparation and storage
• History, philosophy, principles and practices of homœopathy
• Homœopathic medicine dispensing principles and methods
• Homœopathic medicine preparation from source materials
• Homœopathic pharmacy
• Homœopathic principles and the principles of case-taking and case analysis
• Legal and regulatory implications of treatment
• Materia medica of sufficient scope and depth (derivation of data, systems of classification, keynotes, clinical indications) to enable accurate differentiation of indicated medicines in a broad range of acute and chronic conditions
• Medical tests and diagnostic procedures
• Obstacles to cure
• Pathophysiology and disease processes
• Posology
• Primary and secondary responses to homœopathic medicines and contra-indications to treatment
• Relevant organisation policies and procedures
• Repertorial and non-repertorial techniques
• Signs and symptoms of disease and disorder/dysfunction
• Standard precaution procedures in using equipment
• The capabilities and limitations of homœopathic treatment
• The contribution of the different schools of thought and historical theories of clinical practice
• The effect of the dispensing process on the end product
• The importance of strange, striking, rare, unusual and peculiar symptoms

continued  ...

Essential knowledge  (contd ):

• 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
• The relationships between homœopathic medicines, inimical, antidotal complementary and follows well
• The role of other health care professionals and support services
• The use of alternating and intercurrent homœopathic medicines and antidotes
• The use of paper and/or computerised repertories
• The various approaches to prescribing including consideration of:

• aetiology
• central theme of a medicine
• constitutional basis
• keynote characteristic symptoms
• ladder-like prescribing
• miasmatic indications
• prophylactics
• tautopathy
• totality of characteristic symptoms
• use of organopathic medicines

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:

• Administer homœopathic medicines
• Apply differential assessment skills
• Assess the need for other treatment
• Communicate effectively with client
• Dispense homœopathic medicines in accordance with the order/prescription
• Explain any perceived risks and possible responses to the homœopathic medicine
• Identify and analyse responses to previous homœopathic medicines
• Identify potential life threatening and emergency conditions
• Implement treatment plans to achieve the best possible therapeutic outcome for the client, which may involve:

• complete documentation of all recommendations and client responses
• demonstration of the application of established homœopathic clinical practices
• provision of treatment
• referral to another health care professional
• review of treatment plan
• treatment according to the individual, the 11 condition and the presence of complicating factors. it must be the safest, most efficacious method that is also cost effective to the client
• treatment of a range of conditions/disease states
• use of counselling as a treatment method, where competence exists

• Maintain sterile stock and equipment according to legislation and guidelines
• Manage medical emergencies
• Manage time throughout consultation and treatment
• Negotiate strategies to overcome any obstacles to cure
• Negotiate the management of homœopathic treatment with the client's current therapies.
• 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
• Provide appropriate antidotes
• Research allopathic drugs, including iatrogenic potential, interactions and requirements for withdrawal
• Use equipment and resources competently, safely and correctly
• Write referrals

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 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
• Relevant texts or medical manuals
• Relevant paper-based/video assessment instruments
• Appropriate assessment environment
• Demonstration model/client

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 units:

• HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients
• HLTHIR301B Communicate and work effectively in health
• HLTHOM606C Prepare and dispense homœopathic medicine
• HLTIN301C Comply with infection control policies and procedures

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.

Instructions for taking the homœopathic medicine must include :

• Route of administration - ingestion, olfaction, application
• When - time of day in relation to food and/or other medications
• Frequency - single dose or repeated doses, interval between doses
• Self-monitoring - cessation, reporting aggravations or new symptoms
• Any additional instructions specific to the method of administration - eg dilution, plussing

Factors which may interfere with the effectiveness of treatment include :

• Ingestion of food/beverages or smoking within ten - twenty minutes before or after treatment
• Other medical treatment being undertaken
• Client's physical reactivity
• Client's ability/willingness to comply with instructions
• Incorrect storage of medicine

Consent for treatment refers to :

• Informed consent according to the local and national regulations and legal guidelines
• Attendance of appropriate adult for wards of State and minors as appropriate

Responses to the homœopathic medicine may include :

• Amelioration
• Amelioration-aggravation
• Aggravation
• Aggravation-amelioration
• Palliation
• Suppression
• Old symptoms return
• New symptoms emerge unrelated to the medicine
• Proving symptoms emerge
• No change in symptoms

Clinic guidelines may include :

• Procedures and guidelines
• Purpose or mission statement
• Code of ethics or practice
• Agreed practice

Information relevant to treatment plan may include :

• Literature or information materials
• Referrals to other information sources
• Advice regarding self-care and/or removing obstacles to cure
• Referrals to other health care professionals/services
• Availability of any products recommended in the treatment plan

Aggravations are managed may include :

• Discussing response with the client
• Using antidotes
• Adjusting posology
• Seeking appropriate expertise
• Using recognised first aid procedures
• Accessing local emergency services

Ongoing and /or additional treatment may include :

• Repetition of same medicine in same potency
• Repetition of same medicine in different potency
• Change of frequency of administration
• Change of medicine
• Need for intercurrent medicine
• Adding miasmatic medicine
• Introducing constitutional medicine
• Adding a nosode
• Adding a pathological lesion medicine
• Waiting
• Placebo
• Adjusting diet or lifestyle
• Body work
• Counselling