Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit describes the competencies required to conduct health promotion related to oral health as part of primary health care services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities

Specific advice provided may be limited by close supervision or established guidelines in line with community needs and health provider guidelines

Application 

This unit is intended to address skills and knowledge required by those working with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities to deliver primary health care services at Certificate IV level

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 information and guidance related to oral health

1.1 Provide accurate information to the community about oral health  and risk factors related to oral health

1.2 Provide information about the importance of regular oral checks, dental hygiene, causes and prevention of oral diseases  and the need to follow up oral problems

1.3 Discuss issues relating to the impact of diet  on oral health

1.4 Discuss importance of oral health in relation to specific client groups, such as young mothers, children, adolescents, those with chronic diseases, including diabetes

1.5 Provide information on available oral health care resources and services, including specialist resources

2. Demonstrate oral hygiene techniques and aids 

2.1 Demonstrate presence of plaque

2.2 Demonstrate a variety of relevant oral hygiene techniques and the use of appropriate aids and explain their advantages in terms of achieving and maintaining effective oral hygiene

2.3 Assist clients to use relevant techniques as appropriate

2.4 Give clients the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback about information provided and techniques demonstrated

2.5 Encourage clients to follow effective oral hygiene programs

3. Follow up oral health promotion

3.1 Evaluate oral health promotion in line with organisation guidelines and community requirements

3.2 Maintain client confidentiality in line with organisation guidelines

3.3 Regularly update and maintain records of oral health care programs according to organisational policies and procedures

3.4 Implement strategies to improve oral health in line with community requirements and organisation guidelines

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 underpinning oral health
• Broad knowledge of oral disease and treatment options and relevant Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture and tradition related to oral health issues
• Knowledge of symptoms and signs that suggest a need for further assessment and/or treatment
• National Aboriginal Health Strategy
• Organisation policies and procedures relating to client confidentiality
• Role of the Aboriginal Health Worker in counselling and health education
• Strategies to:

• improve oral health in the community
• address clients presenting with oral health problems
• coordinate provision of optimum level of oral health service delivery

• Oral health problems requiring referral
• Effective self-care practices for oral health, including effective tooth-brushing technique
• Relevant evaluation criteria for monitoring effectiveness of oral health care program

Essential skills :

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

• Communicate effectively in a group and one-on-one environment to promote healthy practices and discuss health issues
• Provide accurate and relevant information and guidance about oral health care in line with identified individual and community needs.
• Comply with current NHMRC infection control guidelines, Australian Standards and legislative requirements

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:

• Communicate effectively to provide information and ensure understanding of information provided
• Liaise between service providers and community groups
• Provide community education on oral health
• Reflect on and improve own level and application of skills and knowledge to achieve desirable outcomes and maintain own capabilities
• Work with a team to deliver effective health promotion and education for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities and clients using appropriate facilitation, problem solving and instructional practices

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

Oral health education programs may include , but are not limited to :

• Prescribed home fluoride treatments
• Recommended toothpaste, toothbrush and oral hygiene aids for home use
• Modifications due to disability and aged care requirements
• Age dependent modifications for children

Causes and prevention of oral diseases may include , but are not limited to :

• Role of plaque in development of dental caries and periodontal disease
• Risk factors in development of dental caries, periodontal disease and non-carious tooth wear
• Role of mouthguards in the prevention of trauma to dentition
• Risk factors of cigarette smoking on oral soft tissues
• Risk factors in diet related to the development of dental caries
• Role of saliva in the prevention of dental caries

Oral hygiene techniques may include , but are not limited to :

• Manual and electric tooth brushing technique
• Use of dental floss
• Use of fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses when appropriate
• Use of other specific oral hygiene aids when appropriate
• Modifications to toothbrush handles for specific needs of client/carer
• Modifications to application of program for carers of special needs and aged care clients
• Modifications for young children
• Modifications to techniques required for clients wearing oral appliances

Issues relating to diet and oral health may include :

• Impact of cariogenic and low pH food, including:

• level of intake
• frequency of intake
• consistency
• content

• Importance of reviewing current dietary habits

Oral diseases targeted in an oral health program may include those for :

• Dental caries (decay of dentition)
• Periodontal disease ( supporting structures of dentition)
• Non carious tooth wear
• Damage to dentition due to trauma
• Damage to oral tissues due to cigarette smoking
• Effects of low salivary flow

Appropriate aids may include :

• Range of manual and electric toothbrushes
• Range of oral hygiene aids, including a range of dental floss
• A range of toothpastes
• Range of mouth rinses
• Face mirror for client

Strategies to improve oral health may include :

• Collection of data as a basis for preventing, containing or eliminating diseases or conditions causing oral health problems
• Identification of relationships between oral health and nutrition, demography, culture, socio-economic status and general health
• Use of a community development approach to devise strategies to improve oral health