Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit describes the competencies required to prepare and promote a plan of action for providing a clinical response to emergencies of a medical nature

Application 

This unit is intended to address skills and knowledge required by those involved in planning for emergencies in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities

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. Liaise with relevant agencies  and key people 

1.1 Identify organisation policies and protocols for dealing with medical emergencies

1.2 Consult relevant agencies and key people to determine required roles in a medical emergency

1.3 Identify and document resource availability

2. Develop an emergency plan

2.1 Develop strategies for responding to medical emergencies in consultation with key people from the community and local agencies

2.2 Determine preferred options in consultation with key people and the community, as time and resources permit

2.3 Develop plans proactively, whenever possible

2.4 Ensure plans meet legislative requirements for providing clinical care

3. Distribute and promote emergency action plans 

3.1 Document medical emergency action plans

3.2 Distribute medical emergency action plans to all health service providers

3.3 Ensure health service providers are in procedures relevant to their allocated roles and responsibilities

4. Evaluate and modify the emergency action plan

4.1 Consult key people about the effectiveness of the medical emergency action plan

4.2 Adapt the emergency action plan as required to address community, organisation and legislative requirements

4.3 Distribute amended plans to all local health service providers

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:

• Relevant policies, protocols and procedures of the organisation
• How to operate relevant equipment and technology
• Local resources
• Key community networks
• Client confidentiality
• Local disaster planning processes
• Legislation protocols and policies or guidelines
• Network development
• A broad knowledge base relating to individual and community health, including biology and development, psychology, disease and treatment options, culture and tradition

Essential skills :

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

• Undertake relevant proactive liaison and consultation to underpin planning for a clinical response to emergencies of a medical nature
• Develop strategies and plans to address such emergencies in line with stakeholder and related legislative requirements
• Document, distribute, promote and evaluate these plans to address requirements of the community, health service providers and related organisations

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
• Network, negotiate
• Implement aspects of the disaster plan in line with work role and responsibilities
• Network, consult, communicate and negotiate effectively
• Manage human resources
• Train and assess personnel
• Write reports and document action plans
• Apply a broad skills base relating to intervention in areas of knowledge. This includes skills related to assessment, referral, treatment and other interventions, and communication, all within the context of the local community

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

Medical emergencies may include :

• Car and other vehicle accidents
• Plane crashes
• Mining accidents
• Epidemic diseases
• Any other medical situations which require an urgent response

Relevant agencies may include :

• Community organisations
• Government organisations
• Emergency services

Key people may include :

• The local community
• Key members of the community
• Community council
• Health service providers
• Health workers
• Other emergency service personnel

Resources may include :

• Premises / facilities
• Equipment and supplies
• Vehicles / transport
• Specific skills in workers

Emergency action plans may include :

• Plans or protocols for securing and mobilising the skills and resources needed to respond to specific types of medical emergencies.

Strategies for responding to medical emergencies may include  (for example ):

• Types of treatment
• Access to resources
• Co-operative arrangements with other service providers, including government and non-government organisations
• Evacuation

Emergency Action Plan Co -ordinator is :

• The person in the community or service who is assigned the responsibility of coordinating the full implementation of the emergency action plan