Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers skills and knowledge required to develop a basic understanding of pregnancy and maternal health and provide information to customers on products, services and customer self-care practices to support customers to manage pregnancy and maternal health.

Application of the unit 

This unit supports front-of-store sales work roles and is carried out under direction of a pharmacist.

Prerequisite units 

SIRPPKS001A Support the sale of pharmacy and pharmacist-only medicines.

Employability skills 

The required outcomes described in this unit contain applicable facets of employability skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit is packaged will assist in identifying employability skills requirements.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised  text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge and/or the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1

Develop knowledge of pregnancy and maternal health-related conditions and related products.

1.1

Identify the physical and physiological effects of pregnancy.

1.2

Identify pregnancy -related and maternal health conditions .

1.3

Identify and locate the pharmacy range of pregnancy and maternal health products .

1.4

Identify and access sources of information , specialist services and practitioners .

2

Identify customer needs.

2.1

Identify customer needs, symptoms, duration and severity.

2.2

Determine customer's current use of other medications  and other medical conditions.

2.3

Identify and act upon situations requiring referral to pharmacist.

3

Provide information on pregnancy and maternal health-related products and support services.

3.1

Provide customers with information on lifestyle, self-care practices and specialist services to support pregnancy and maternal health management.

3.2

Recommend  pregnancy and maternal health-related products, equipment and aids appropriate to customer symptoms and needs.

3.3

Provide the customer with information and directions for product use.

3.4

Explain and demonstrate use, care and maintenance of aids, test kits and equipment as appropriate to customer needs.

3.5

Identify and act upon opportunities to suggest companion products relevant to desired health care outcomes.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

The following skills must be assessed as part of this unit:

• interpersonal communication skills to:

• communicate with the customer, including obtaining and providing information and confirming understanding, through clear and direct communication
• ask questions to identify and confirm requirements
• use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences
• use and interpret non-verbal communication

• apply literacy skills to read and interpret product and self-care information
• respect and maintain privacy and confidentiality of customer information
• demonstrate procedures for identifying symptoms and identifying and selling pregnancy and maternal health-related medicines and products
• locate specialist information and services to support pregnancy and maternal health
• maintain currency of knowledge about pregnancy and maternal health and related medicines and products
• demonstrate procedures for using relevant aids, self-testing kits and equipment that may assist customers
• access and use information systems as required by the role
• plan and organise work to meet customer service requirements.

The following knowledge must be assessed as part of this unit:

• pharmacy policies, protocols and procedures relating to the sale of pregnancy and maternal health medicines, aids, kits and equipment
• common symptoms of pregnancy and maternal health-related conditions
• common factors that can contribute to maternal health needs and related lifestyle and self-care information
• range of pregnancy and maternal health medicines and basic understanding of modes of action for medicines that can be sold without the involvement of a pharmacist
• common side-effects of taking pregnancy and maternal health medicines, and using pregnancy and maternal health aids and equipment
• product and health condition terminology
• pregnancy and maternal health aids and equipment
• use, care and storage requirements for aids and equipment
• sources of information, advice and specialist services related to pregnancy and maternal health
• basic understanding of the physical and physiological changes that occur during and following pregnancy
• principles of evidence-based assessment as they apply to assessing the efficacy of medicines used to treat pregnancy and maternal health conditions and awareness of credible sources of information on product range
• role boundaries and responsibilities and circumstances under which referral to a pharmacist or other pharmacy staff is required
• communication skills to collect and provide information to customers, including use of structured and open-ended questions and interpretation of non-verbal cues
• procedures to follow for collecting and supplying information to an agent acting on behalf of a customer
• communication methods and systems to operate as part of a team and provide relevant information to a pharmacist and other pharmacy staff as 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 competency in this unit 

Evidence of the following is essential:

• applies pharmacy protocols and procedures when selling pregnancy and maternal health-related medicines, aids and equipment, including:

• collecting the required information from customers
• identifying situations or requests requiring referral to a pharmacist and refer appropriately
• identifying and supplying the relevant medicines, information, aids and equipment to meet customer needs
• demonstrating use of aids and equipment

• applies knowledge of the common symptoms and basic causes of pregnancy-related and maternal health conditions and associated risk factors
• applies knowledge of medicine, aids and equipment appropriate to treat or manage pregnancy and maternal health conditions
• applies knowledge of lifestyle, self-care practices and support services
• identifies and refers to specialist sources of information, advice and expertise to assist the customer and maintain currency of knowledge
• respects and protects customer privacy when communicating with customers
• demonstrates ability to put the customer at ease and use questioning techniques appropriate to discussing highly sensitive issues
• provides information to customers in ways appropriate to customer needs and demonstrates appropriate techniques to confirm understanding
• recognises the situations requiring referral to a pharmacist or other pharmacy staff according to pharmacy policy
• plans and carries out work to meet customer service workflow requirements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• demonstration of the sale of pregnancy and maternal health-related medicines and products, over sufficient time to demonstrate handling of a range of contingencies
• performance is observed by the assessor or a technical expert working in partnership with the assessor.
• access to a real or simulated pharmacy environment
• access to relevant pharmacy protocols and procedures
• access to relevant documentation, such as:

• pregnancy and maternal health product and service information
• self-care and lifestyle advice

• access to a range of customers with different requirements (real or simulated)
• access to a range of pregnancy and maternal health products.

Methods of assessment 

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

• observation of the candidate in the workplace selling pregnancy and maternal health-related medicines, aids and equipment to a range of customers
• written or verbal questioning to assess knowledge and understanding
• role plays to confirm communication skills to meet diverse customer requirements.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

Assessing employability skills 

Employability skills are integral to effective performance in the workplace and are broadly consistent across industry sectors. How these skills are applied varies between occupations and qualifications due to the different work functions and contexts.

Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically in the context of the job role and with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification.

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. Bold italicised  wording in the performance criteria is detailed below.

Pregnancy and maternal health -related conditions  may include:

• morning sickness
• fatigue
• changes in hair condition, e.g. drier or oilier
• weakened nails
• varicose veins
• indigestion or heartburn
• constipation
• haemorrhoids
• swelling of hands and feet
• backache
• headache
• breast and nipple changes
• pre-eclampsia
• gestational diabetes
• postnatal depression.

Sale of pregnancy and maternal health products  must comply with:

• federal and state or territory legislation
• industry codes of practice, standards and guidelines
• community pharmacy policies, protocols and procedures relating to the sale of pregnancy and maternal health-related medicines, products, services, aids and equipment.

Pregnancy and maternal health -related products  may include:

• morning sickness treatments
• nipple care products
• pregnancy testing kits
• stretch mark and related skin care products,
• nipple shields
• breast expressing kits
• nursing pads
• nursing accessories, e.g. pillows
• maternity pads

Medicines and products  may include:

• complementary medicines
• dietary supplements
• non-scheduled products
• pharmacy medication.

Sources of information , specialist services and practitioners  include:

• health care information
• pharmacy or supplier product leaflets, brochures and manuals
• manufacturer information
• industry and professional publications
• medicines databases
• doctors
• pharmacist
• support organisations
• other health care specialists
• relevant websites.

Other medications  may include:

• prescription medicines
• pharmacy and pharmacist-only medicines
• herbal and vitamin supplements.

Recommendations  refer to:

• only those medicines not requiring referral to a pharmacist for therapeutic advice. This may include S2 medicines and general (non-scheduled) items
• aids, test kits and equipment.

Sector 

Community Pharmacy

Competency field 

Community Pharmacy Product