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)

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 may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations

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

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment

Skilled assessors

Relevant assessment instruments

Appropriate assessment environment

Method of assessment

Observation in the work place

Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge

Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice

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

Examples of assessment notes

Practical demonstrations and exercises

Research work or written reports of observations in a practical setting

Oral questioning on technique or assessment strategy

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

Related units:

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

HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients

HLTNAT609C Work within a naturopathic framework

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:

Anatomical terminology and levels of organisation

Anatomical systems (knowledge and understanding) including

cardiovascular (including haemopoetic) including vascular system, spleen, heart and pericardium, systemic arteries, systemic veins, portal veins, and foetal circulation

ENT and special senses including hearing and equilibration, vision, smell, and taste

gastrointestinal including mouth, salivary glands, tongue, pharynx, oesophagus, abdomen and peritoneum, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, biliary system, and pancreas

lymphatic including thoracic viscera, abdominal and pelvic viscera, alimentary tract, urinary and genital systems, trunk and limbs, deep and superficial lymph nodes

muscoskeletal including muscles, bones, cartilage, joints, head, upper trunk, upper limb, pelvis, and lower limb

nervous including peripheral, autonomic and central nervous systems

respiratory including larynx, trachea, lungs and mediastinum, and pleura

urogenital (reproductive and urinary) and endocrine including kidneys, ureter and bladder, male genital organs, female genital organs, thyroid, parathyroid glands, pituitary gland, adrenal gland, and thymus gland

Anatomy and physiology according to various stages of life

Biochemistry

Critical information required for diagnosis and treatment according to naturopathic framework

Ethical and legal implications of enquiry

Physiology including

basic physiology including physiology of muskoskeletal system - muscles, posture and movement

cardiovascular system including heart, and circulation

ENT and other senses including hearing and equilibration, vision, smell, and taste

gastrointestinal including motility, secretions, movement of food, digestion and absorption

general physiology including cell structure and function, metabolism, and levels of organisation in the body

lymphatic system including lymph, immunity and allergy

nervous system including central, peripheral and automatic nervous systems

respiratory system including pulmonary function

urogenital and endocrine including renal function, micturition, extracellular fluid, metabolism, thyroid gland, hormones, and reproduction

continued ...

Essential knowledge (contd):

Pathophysiology and disease processes of common clinical diseases and interactivity between them, to a level necessary to support the making of a screening assessment and assessment of the client's condition to support the practice of natural/traditional medicine

Pathophysiology and disease processes affecting the nervous system including

cardiovascular system including blood, clotting, erythropoietin, and cardiac cycle

central and peripheral nervous tissue, brain, spinal cord and associated nerves, sensory, motor and integrative systems, and autonomic nervous system

clinical features and pathophysiology of common bacterial and viral diseases to assess the client, its stage, severity and likely prognosis

dietary impact on health and symptoms

endocrine system including thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands, pancreas, calcium and bone metabolism, pituitary gland, and pineal gland

ENT and special senses including vision, hearing, smell, and taste

factors affecting transmission of disease and choice of treatments of common infectious diseases

identification of infectious organisms, indications, complications, epidemiology, occurrence, mode of transmission, vectors, incubation period, period of communicability, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention

lymphatic system including immunity, and allergy

prostaglandins, development, inheritance, DNA, RNA, and introduction to genetics

respiratory system including pulmonary function, gas transport, regulation of respiration, and respiratory adjustments

urogenital system including renal function, fluid balance, male and female reproductive systems

Philosophical approach to diagnosis and treatment

Physical signs and symptoms of disease

Relevant testing and assessment options and procedures

Symptomology and pathology according to naturopathic practice

Terminology correct to discipline

The cost benefit ratio of special tests or studies

The legal and ethical requirements for confidentiality

Time management requirements during consultation

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:

Access and interpret up-to-date information

Apply methods of keeping medical records

Communicate effectively to gain required information

Conduct external physical examination

Demonstrate communication skills

Demonstrate observation skills

Demonstrate physical examination procedures

Demonstrate record keeping skills

Demonstrate respect for practitioner/client boundaries

Detect and record symptoms and signs present including precipitating factors, relieving factors and associated manifestations

Identify location, stage and characteristics of disease

Request high precision laboratory and/or radiology tests when required

Require the minimum number of additional tests

Understand and discuss medical reports

Use a range of medical equipment used in external physical examinations

Use equipment and technology competently and safely

Use terminology correct to discipline

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.

Factors likely to have a negative impact on assessment may include:

Language difficulties

Disabilities

Emotional trauma

Lack of privacy or focus due to additional parties being present

Cultural or gender factors

Other health care professional may include:

Doctors

Social workers

Alternative and complementary health practitioners

Counsellors

Client history may include:

Date of presentation

Identifying personal details

Source of referral (if applicable)

Main presenting complaint or reason for consultation

Presenting symptom picture

General state of health:

physical

emotional

allergies

dietary picture

sleep pattern

exercise

leisure activities

Childhood and adult illness

Accidents, injuries, operations

Hospitalisations

Occupational history and environment

Other current medical treatment

Medication, supplements and natural remedies - current and previous

Social lifestyle including social drug usage

Family history

Details required for homeopathic case

Potential sensitivities may include:

Gender

Ethnicity

Language

Religious beliefs

Cultural heritage

Sexuality

Ability

Presenting disease state and personal history

Signs of disease/condition may refer to:

Precipitating factors

Relieving factors

Associated manifestations

Indications of stage and status of illness

Symptom qualities

Functional and pathological disturbances

Legal and regulatory requirements:

All procedures must be conducted according to legislative and regulatory requirements.

Other appropriate assessment techniques may include:

Observation

Discussion

Taking temperature

Taking pulse and blood pressure

Palpation and auscultation

Skin examination

Percussion

External physical examination

Iridology techniques

Urine tests

Assessment of growth (height, weight, head circumference) and development

Overview of system - enquiring about the presence of previously diagnosed organic diseases and functional disorders

Any other method in which the practitioner has been trained to a competent standard