Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to monitor and evaluate a range of health care services provided as part of a care plan for each client, as a member of a multi-disciplinary team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities

Treatments include implementation and evaluation of care plans in line with legislative requirements and organisation protocols

Application 

This unit may be applied by those working individually (eg. in isolated practice) or as part of a team (eg. associated with a clinic or hospital)

It is imperative that cultural issues, including gender and kinship issues, are respected in the delivery, assessment and application of this competency unit

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. Monitor client's condition

1.1 Monitor client health in line with schedule and criteria incorporated in care plan  for each client

1.2 Re-assess and/or review treatment/medication regime as required where client fails to progress in accordance with expectation

1.3 Ensure standing order/written care protocols underpin health assessment and management actions

1.4 Conduct health monitoring  in accordance with organisation policies and procedures and occupational health and safety requirements

2. Evaluate effectiveness of health care

2.1 Build and maintain a relationship of trust with the client and/or family/carer, with active promotion of and strict adherence to confidentiality

2.2 Question client and/or family/carer to ascertain their level of comfort and compliance with the health management regime

2.3 Ascertain degree of improvement of client's condition and compare with expectations under the health care plan

2.4 Provide client and/or family/carer with clear information about their level of improvement in relation to the health care plan and their level of compliance

2.5 Evaluate impact of ongoing health management in relation to the client's physical, mental and emotional condition and behaviour

2.6 Encourage clients and family/carer to maintain health by active involvement with the care plan

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:

• Organisation policies and procedures relating to client confidentiality
• Underpinning knowledge of:

• anatomy/physiology
• microbiology
• pharmacology
• pathology
• relevant conditions
• relevant treatments and associated care services available

• Knowledge of pharmacology relevant to the specific treatment or medication regime
• Realistic expectation of client condition
• Knowledge of care planning and self-management support tools
• Relevant criteria for evaluation of effectiveness of care plan

Essential skills :

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

• Work independently and consistently in delivering primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients, including:

• Monitoring client health status, issues and needs
• Reviewing effectiveness of health care strategies and making appropriate revisions
• Working in a multi-disciplinary team environment

In addition, the candidate must be able 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:

• Review client's condition in relation to treatments provided, taking prior history into consideration
• Review treatment, medicines in consultation with multi-disciplinary team
• Refer client for further assessment, treatment and/or counselling as required
• Communicate effectively with client
• Evaluate:

• outcomes of client's prescribed treatment / care plan
• client's level of compliance in following prescribed treatment / care plan
• holistic impact of treatment on client's physical, mental and emotional condition and behaviour
• overall effectiveness of care plan

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 of assessment :

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

Conditions of assessment :

This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture

Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself

or:

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

Context of assessment :

Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible

Related units :

This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application

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.

Cultural Respect 

This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance

Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices

Community Control 

Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process

Supervision 

Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing State/Territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements

References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals

A person at this level should only  be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines

Legislative Requirements 

Federal, State or Territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'

Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework

Care plan  (case management ) may include :

• Clinical treatments (as listed separately)
• Actions that support self-management.
• Referral for further assessment, counselling and/or treatment
• Administration of medicines
• Monitoring regime
• Evaluation of care

Health care monitoring may include :

• Scheduling using paper-based or computer-based systems
• Client follow-up visits
• Client re-assessment and review of treatment / medication regime.

Criteria for evaluation of health care plan may include :

• Improvement of quality of life.
• Any changes in client condition.
• Client's level of comfort with care plan
• Community level of acceptance of care services

Level of compliance may include :

• Taking prescribed medicines
• Maintaining appropriate behaviour patterns