HLTAHCS016 Develop primary health care programs

Release: 1

HLTAHCS016 Develop primary health care programs

Modification History

Not applicable.

Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to plan, organise and evaluate primary health care programs to address identified needs in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities. It requires the ability to use critical thinking, planning and collaboration skills.

Primary health care programs are those programs which provide services to address particular health issues. Health issues are diverse and programs could concentrate on physical health issues (e.g. eye, ear and oral health, chronic disease), social and emotional wellbeing, or health issues for specific populations (e.g. maternal and children’s health). Activities could be short term or ongoing.

The development of health promotion programs is covered in another unit.

This unit applies to senior roles in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisations that provide primary health care and other support services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities. It is specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people working as health workers or health practitioners.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

No regulatory requirement for certification, occupational or business licensing is linked to this unit at the time of publication. For information about practitioner registration and accredited courses of study, contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia (ATSIHPBA).

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Competency Field

Health Care and Support

Unit Sector

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENTS	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Elements describe the essential outcomes	Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.
1. Establish community needs and program scope.	1.1. Use holistic approaches that support the community to take a self-determination approach to health. 1.2. Identify community representatives and other individuals and organisations who play a role in local community health service provision. 1.3. Create a process for community representatives and other individuals and organisations to be consulted and actively involved in the development of primary health care programs. 1.4. Identify and assess existing community information and research that provides data about diseases of high incidence and health care needs and priorities. 1.5. Consult with colleagues to obtain their perspectives and feedback on program needs and service gaps. 1.6. Identify and consider government and non-government Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander primary health strategies, policies, and resources that could support program development.
2. Plan primary health care programs.	2.1. Follow agreed consultation and collaboration processes. 2.2. Develop specific program objectives and key performance indicators based on identified health priorities. 2.3. Determine program delivery and follow-up methods according to community needs, the nature of the health issue being addressed and operational constraints and opportunities. 2.4. Determine human, financial and physical resource requirements and the actions required to facilitate their availability. 2.5. Develop processes and procedures that address ethical and compliance requirements and are consistent with the principles underpinning work in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health. 2.6. Establish health monitoring and program evaluation criteria and processes. 2.7. Document plans that include clear actions, responsibilities and timelines for implementation. 2.8. Obtain organisational and community approval for proposed program, according to community protocols.
3. Organise program implementation.	3.1. Follow organisational procedures for accessing additional financial resources. 3.2. Organise required training based on the program plan. 3.3. Access and arrange required internal and external services and resources for program delivery. 3.4. Identify local roles and responsibilities for program delivery and consult with colleagues to plan practical details.
4. Communicate program details.	4.1. Identify key internal and external health services stakeholders who need to be made aware of the program. 4.2. Determine the best ways of providing information about the program based on its scope and specific audience needs. 4.3. Provide information about the program and how it will be implemented to the community and other stakeholders.
5. Monitor and evaluate primary health care programs.	5.1. Seek and review feedback from colleagues and client about the effectiveness of program delivery. 5.2. Take action to make minor adjustments to delivery based on feedback received. 5.3. Evaluate health care programs against agreed criteria. 5.4. Identify program strengths and areas for improvement. 5.5. Collect, document and use information and program data to identify service gaps and further opportunities. 5.6. Communicate evaluation outcomes to community representatives and other stakeholders to inform future planning. 5.7. Use evaluation as the basis for advocacy activities related to primary health care programs.

Foundation Skills

Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement.
SKILLS	DESCRIPTION
Reading skills to:	interpret detailed familiar organisational procedures interpret varied, unfamiliar and potentially complex information about health issues from research, funding and strategy documents.
Writing skills to:	structure and draft program planning and implementation documentation and procedures integrate and link information from diverse sources in program implementation information.
Oral communication skills to:	facilitate community and team consultations and negotiations using open probe questions and active listening.
Numeracy skills to:	interpret and analyse potentially complex financial and health research data develop financial estimates and scenarios using complex calculations.
Teamwork skills to:	work collaboratively with both internal and external colleagues.
Planning and organising skills to:	establish implementation plan that involves diverse logistical elements.
Technology skills to:	create, structure and format digital planning documentation.

Unit Mapping Information

This unit supersedes and is not equivalent to both HLTAHW045 Plan, develop and evaluate primary health care programs for Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander comm. or HLTAHW066 Manage the delivery of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander primary health care. Content merged.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ced1390f-48d9-4ab0-bd50-b015e5485705