Assessment Requirements for HLTAHW015 Work under instructions to support the safe use of medication

Release: 2

Assessment Requirements for HLTAHW015 Work under instructions to support the safe use of medication

Modification History

Release	Comments
Release 2	Updated: assessor requirements statement foundation skills lead in statement licensing statement modification history to reflect 2012 standards Equivalent outcome.
Release 1	This version was released in HLT Health Training Package release 1.0 and meets the requirements of the 2012 Standards for Training Packages.

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.

There must be evidence that the candidate has:

supported at least five clients in the safe use of medication by:

•	clarifying own role in relation to supporting clients to use over-the-counter and prescribed medication safely

•	gaining instructions for each client’s use of medication and clarifying any concerns with primary health care team

•	using culturally appropriate and safe communication skills to support each client’s understanding of the medication’s purpose and instructions for safe use

•	supporting each client to safely use medication by following instructions

•	confirming all actions with appropriately authorised practitioner

•	correctly documenting each stage of the process according to organisational procedures and policies.

Knowledge Evidence

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 work role. These include knowledge of:

•	organisational policies and procedures and legislation or regulations relating to:

•	client confidentiality

•	referral, including various levels of urgency, and follow-up of client

•	mandatory reporting

•	notifiable diseases

•	limits of own ability and authority

•	reporting procedures

•	documentation

•	organisational procedures, and legal and ethical requirements impacting on own role in supporting medication usage

•	appropriate handling and storage of medications, including the importance of cold chain storage

•	basic knowledge of commonly used medicines/drugs, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications

•	basic knowledge of common terms and abbreviations used in relation to medication

•	use of equipment to support medication administration

•	required infection control procedures

•	expected effects of medications being used, the consequences of incorrect use of medication and of main reasons for errors in medication administration

•	understanding of duty of care in assisting clients to safely use medication within scope of own work role

•	basic knowledge of how medications can impact on the anatomy and physiology of major body systems, relevant organs and their functions, including:

•	cardio-vascular system (including heart, arteries and veins)

•	respiratory system (including lungs, nose, mouth, throat)

•	senses (including sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste and equilibrium)

•	skin and integumentary system (including skin layers, hair and nails)

•	digestive and gastro-intestinal system (including stomach, intestines, bowel)

•	nervous system (including brain and nerves)

•	circulatory system (including arteries, veins)

•	genitourinary system (including male and female genital and reproductive systems)

•	endocrine system (including glands and hormones)

•	musculoskeletal system (skull, skeleton, muscles, body tissue)

•	common conditions and presenting problems associated with major body systems and relevant organs.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated working:

in a health service or centre

as part of, and under the supervision of, a multidisciplinary primary health care team

with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

In addition, simulations and scenarios must be used where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely. These are situations relating to emergency or unplanned procedures where assessment in these circumstances would be unsafe or is impractical.

Simulated assessment environments must simulate the real-life working environment where these skills and knowledge would be performed, with all the relevant equipment and resources of that working environment, including medication dispensing devices and support tools.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Assessment must be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in this unit of competency and who is:

an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or:

accompanied by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care.

Links

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