Unit of competency

Modification History

Release	Comments
Release 2	Updated: assessor requirements statement foundation skills lead in statement licensing statement modification history to reflect 2012 standards Equivalent outcome.
Release 1	This version was released in HLT Health Training Package release 1.0 and meets the requirements of the 2012 Standards for Training Packages. Significant changes to elements and performance criteria. New evidence requirements for assessment, including volume and environment requirements.

Application

This unit describes the required knowledge and skills to assist in the planning and implementation of a health care plan to address findings from clinical assessments. Actions as part of the plan may include delivering information, supporting healthy lifestyle practices, and explaining and supporting medication use and specific medical procedures.

This unit applies to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers working as part, and under the supervision, of a multidisciplinary primary health care team to provide a range of primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Elements define the essential outcomes.	Performance criteria specify the level of performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.
1. Assist in planning a care response to a health assessment	1.1 Show consideration of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community values, beliefs and gender roles when assisting in developing a health care plan 1.2 Provide assistance to develop care plan, including delivering health care services with the primary health care team and other health care providers 1.3 Take immediate action in line with standard treatment protocols to address life-threatening conditions, injuries or events appropriate to own role and authority 1.4 Document care plan in line with standard protocols for health management and organisation procedures 1.5 Ensure care plan supports clients in taking a self- care approach to health, in line with individual needs and organisation requirements
2. Communicate the need for a health care plan	2.1 Use culturally appropriate and safe communication with client and/or significant others to discuss health assessment findings and the need for a health care plan 2.2 Explain the purpose and impact of a primary health care plan to the client and/or significant others 2.3 Encourage the client to ask questions about the health care plan to support understanding and agreement 2.4 Seek support from primary health care team members to support the client’s understanding of the need and scope of the health care plan as required
3. Implement treatment under health care plan	3.1 Use visual aids and other resources to explain each aspect of the treatment to the client and/or significant others and check their understanding and agreement 3.2 Initiate treatment as part of health care plan following organisational procedures 3.3 Deliver health care services with reference to the primary health care team and other providers 3.4 Report serious or potentially serious health problems as determined in organisational protocols 3.5 Follow all organisational procedures supporting infection control and workplace health and safety 3.6 Implement basic life-support and clinical treatments in line with organisational guidelines and limits of own ability and authority 3.7 Assist clients requiring referral to gain access to appropriate service providers
4. Monitor effectiveness of care	4.1 Monitor health, chronic conditions, symptoms and potential acute presentations of the client in accordance with care plan and as negotiated with the client and/or significant others 4.2 Communicate with client and/or significant others about the progress of or concerns about the care plan 4.3 Review and evaluate effectiveness of care against care plan and adjust as required in consultation with primary health care team, other health professionals and organisational procedures 4.4 Undertake effective networking and liaison with external health care and other service providers to facilitate client access to services 4.5 Document client progress in the client’s file in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

Foundation Skills

The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Numeracy	in order to use and record data from medical equipment, including thermometers, blood glucose testing units and peak expiratory flow rate meters in order to measure vital signs, including temperature, pulse, blood pressure andture, pulse, blood pressure,temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and blood sugar level, blood pressure testing respiratory rate

Other foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit.

Unit Mapping Information

No equivalent unit.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ced1390f-48d9-4ab0-bd50-b015e5485705

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Release	Comments
Release 2	Updated: assessor requirements statement foundation skills lead in statement licensing statement modification history to reflect 2012 standards Equivalent outcome.
Release 1	This version was released in HLT Health Training Package release 1.0 and meets the requirements of the 2012 Standards for Training Packages. Significant changes to elements and performance criteria. New evidence requirements for assessment, including volume and environment requirements.

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.

There must be evidence that the candidate has:

• assisted in the planning and implementation of basic health care for at least five Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients by:

- communicating in culturally safe and appropriate ways with each client and/or significant others to effectively:

o gather information to assess health status

o communicate care plan options

o check the client and/or significant other’s understanding of information provided

o supporting clients to implement self-management strategies

- documenting the health care plan according to organisation procedures and policies

- using relevant medical equipment safely and correctly to implement health care plan

- recognising situations requiring immediate or urgent action and acting appropriately

- making appropriate referrals, and providing accurate and relevant details to clients and referral agencies

- assisting clients to access relevant benefits associated with the health care system, including, Medicare, pharmaceutical and other related benefits

- recognising appropriate progress in relation to identified criteria for client care plan

- determining further actions in the context of monitoring and evaluating outcomes with colleagues

- maintaining client confidentiality according to organisational procedures and policies.

Knowledge Evidence

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:

- organisational policies and procedures and legislation or regulations relating to:

- client confidentiality

- referral, including various levels of urgency, and follow-up of client

- mandatory reporting

- notifiable communicable diseases

- limits of own ability and authority

- reporting procedures

- documentation

- infection control and workplace health and safety procedures

- knowledge of anatomy and physiology to identify major body systems, relevant organs and their functions, including:

o cardiovascular system (including heart, arteries and veins)

o respiratory system (including lungs, nose, mouth, throat)

o senses (including sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste and equilibrium)

o skin and integumentary system (including skin layers, hair and nails)

o digestive and gastrointestinal system (including stomach, intestines, bowel)

o nervous system (including brain and nerves)

o circulatory system (including arteries, veins)

o genitourinary system (including male and female genital and reproductive systems)

o endocrine system (including glands and hormones)

o musculoskeletal system (skull, skeleton, muscles, body tissue)

- common conditions and presenting problems associated with major body systems and relevant organs, including general impact of chronic conditions

- acute chronic conditions impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities, including:

o cardiovascular disease

o diabetes

o cancer

o chronic respiratory disease

o chronic kidney disease

o asthma

o arthritis

- features of chronic illness, including:

o complex causality

o multiple risk factors

o long latency periods

o a prolonged course of illness

o functional impairment or disability

o determinants of chronic conditions, including:

o smoking

o physical inactivity

o nutrition

o alcohol intake

o use of illicit drugs

o obesity

- purpose, procedures and equipment involved in the following examinations, including:

o temperature

o pulse and respiration

o blood pressure

o blood glucose level

o haemoglobin

o weight and height

o length

o head and waist circumference

o visual acuity and ear examination

o peak expiratory flow rate

- ‘normal’ range of outcomes of physical assessments

- non-clinical reasons for significant variation from ‘normal’ range of outcomes

- common over-the-counter and prescribed medicines used within the community and their general purposes

- basic knowledge relating to pregnancy and birthing, including:

o basic mechanics of pregnancy and birthing

o impact of smoking and alcohol in pregnancy

o impact of chronic conditions on pregnancy and birthing

o basic newborn and infant care, including:

o promotion of breast feeding

o growth assessment

o correct use of infant formula

- principles of:

o aseptic technique

o effective bandaging

o infection control and limiting cross infection

- basic pharmacological principles relevant to specific treatments to be initiated

- criteria and methods for evaluating effectiveness of care/treatments

- strategies, methods and tools available for self-management of chronic conditions and to address barriers to self-management

- environmental factors contributing to poor health which can impact on the effectiveness of health care plans such as:

o lack of access to clean water

o faulty housing equipment including toilets, taps, drainage, pipes, washing machines and hot water

o poor housing or building design contributing to health problems

o overcrowding

o littering and lack of facilities to dispose of rubbish

o personal hygiene and community interactions

o unsafe food handling, preparation, storage and disposal.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated working:

• in a health service or centre
• as part of, and under the supervision of, a multidisciplinary primary health care team
• with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

In addition, simulations and scenarios must be used where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely. These are situations relating to emergency or unplanned procedures where assessment in these circumstances would be unsafe or is impractical.

Simulated assessment environments must simulate the real-life working environment where these skills and knowledge would be performed, with all the relevant equipment and resources of that working environment.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Assessment must be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in this unit of competency and who is:

• an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker

or:

• accompanied by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ced1390f-48d9-4ab0-bd50-b015e5485705