Unit of competency details

Descriptor 

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to interpret information gathered in the health assessment and make and review an accurate assessment over the course of aromatherapy treatment

Application 

This unit may apply to work in aromatherapy in a range of health settings

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. Analyse and interpret information received

1.1 Correlate results of the health assessment  with client's case history

1.2 Recognise signs and symptoms of condition  in the client and identify pre-requisites or contraindications for treatment/care

1.3 Assess information gathered and assign priorities for treatment in consultation with the client using the knowledge and experience and theoretical principles applied by the practitioner

1.4 Gather, record and organise information in a way which can be interpreted readily by other professionals

1.5 Use professional judgement to draw sound conclusions and prognosis from the data collected

1.6 Elicit assessment signs and symptoms in a thorough and objective manner to avoid premature conclusions on the treatment plan

1.7 Monitor client's progress systematically in order to confirm the clinical impression

1.8 Combine history and clinical data effectively to obtain a differential assessment and prognosis

2. Inform the client

2.1 Discuss rationale of the treatment assessment plan/prognosis with the client

2.2 Respond to client enquiries using language the client understands

2.3 Discuss referral and collaborative options with the client if necessary

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:

• The principles of aromatherapy
• Anatomy and physiology of the body systems
• Relevant testing and assessment options and procedures
• Signs and symptoms of condition
• Disease process
• Knowledge and understanding of types of further investigation available
• The contribution of the different schools of thought and historical theories of clinical practice
• Data analysis techniques
• Referral process

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:

• Apply differential assessment
• Write referrals, appraisal letters for insurance companies and other documentation
• Interpret investigative findings
• Demonstrate differential diagnostic skills
• Prioritise presenting conditions
• Establish urgency for treatment required

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

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

Method of assessment :

• Observation in the workplace
• Demonstration
• Written assignments/projects
• Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of diagnostic technique and strategies to contribute to best practice
• Oral questioning
• Role play/simulation
• Written assignment with practical demonstration
• Diagnosis from assessment notes or simulated assessments
• Short answer tests
• Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting. If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision

Related units :

This unit should be assessed in conjunction with the following related competency unit:

• HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients

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.

Signs and symptoms of condition may include :

• Biological phenomena
• Emotional phenomena
• Psychological phenomena
• Social phenomena
• Spiritual phenomena
• Test or examination results
• Sensations
• Onset
• Duration
• Location
• Causation
• Direction of chief complaint
• Ameliorating and aggravating factors
• Symptom qualities (intensity, severity, nature of complaint)
• Non-verbal signs and symptoms
• Functional and pathological disturbances

Assessment may include :

• Taking a history
• observation
• Palpation
• Special tests including
• patch tests
• ROM
• VAT
• Questioning
• Health reports/referrals