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

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

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

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

Resources essential for assessment include:

an appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment

relevant texts or medical manuals

documented processes to enable the access and interpretation of up to date information

relevant assessment instruments

skilled assessors

Method of assessment

Practical demonstration and observation in the work place

Written assignments/projects

Practical assignments

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

Oral questioning and discussion

Role play simulation

Explanation of treatment plan preparations

Research work

Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (laboratory). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision

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 undertaken after or in conjunction with units:

HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients

HLTNUT603B Apply a nutritional diagnostic framework

HLTNUT604B Manage work within a clinical nutritional 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:

Advanced knowledge of medical terminology

Allopathic drugs, their classifications, usage and side effects

Community resources and support services

Contraindications of treatment

Drug abuse - signs, consequences, treatment and community resources available

Drug interactions with herbal medicines

Groups of herbs and how to distinguish between them

Legal and ethical considerations in treating clients with herbal remedies

Lifestyle factors relevant to treatment of specific conditions and diseases

Major herbs with respect to their use for general symptoms, psychological and physiological indications

Medical reports and diagnostic procedures

Methods of preparing treatment and management plans (knowledge and understanding)

Minor herbs in respect to their most important indications

Pharmaceutical and herbal medicines used in pregnancy and breast feeding

Pharmaceutical and herbal medicines used to treat disorders of each system of the body

Pharmacodynamics of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines and the theory of drug action; factors modifying drug effect and dosage; drug toxicity and toxicology

Possible obstacles to cure

Remedies/treatments and dosages used to treat particular conditions

Supplementary measures in the management of the condition/system eg dietary considerations and exercise

The correct preparations required for specific treatment

The interaction of treatments with foods, other herbs, nutritional supplements and drugs

The possible responses to treatments

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 on herbal medicines and practices

Access and understand reference material on the effects of current conventional drug therapies and their withdrawal

Apply methods of treating and managing disease process of each system using nutritional medicine

Apply methods of treating and managing disease process of each system using nutritional medicine

Demonstrate communication and negotiation skills

Demonstrate consideration of the impact of client vitality on selected treatments

Demonstrate interpersonal and questioning skills

Dispense remedies/treatments

Identify treatment options and establish treatment regimes

Prepare treatment plans

Prescribe herbal medicines according to the time-frame appropriate to the client condition and the herbs selected, and to the dosage recommended for the client's age

Provide advice

Take into account opportunities to address waste minimisation, environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues

Understand and discuss medical reports and other data relevant to the case

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.

Therapeutic principles of nutritionalmedicine refers to:

Practices, theories and philosophies specific to the use of nutritional medicine in the treatment of clients eg concurrent, palliative and continuing care and recognise the stage of the client's illness in terms of chronicity, tendency for the condition to degenerate or spontaneously resolve

Contraindications to treatment and possible complicating factors may include:

Acute surgical and medical conditions such as cardiac arrest, acute hypovolaemic shock, paralytic ileus and loss of consciousness

Traumatic injuries or conditions requiring immediate medical attention

Life threatening situations

Personal or life circumstances

Ability or willingness to comply with treatment

Allergies/sensitivities

Past treatment history

Current conditions/disease state

Current medications/treatments

Contraindications for use of certain excipients and bases

Treatments may include:

Prescription of supplements

Dispensing of extemporaneous preparations

Client compliance refers to:

Ability to follow instructions or suggestions

Willingness to follow instructions or suggestions

Discrepancies may include:

Client is unaware of the immediate danger of their condition

Client is over anxious about their condition

Client is unaware of maintaining causes acting on their condition

Practitioner is unaware of some implications of the client's condition

Practitioner and client have a different view as to what the main problem is

Practitioner responsibilities may include:

Isolating the sick person

Notifying doctor about their condition

Appropriate hygienic procedures

Notifying state health authorities of notifiable/communicable disease

Commitment to the treatment plan

Discussing relevant contraindications or potential complications to treatment

Reviewing of treatment plan

Client responsibilities may include:

Following instruction/advice during and post treatment

Advising practitioner of any relevant contraindications or potential complications to treatment

Advising practitioner of compliance issues

Commitment to the treatment plan

Treatment evaluation strategies may include:

Discussing and reviewing of response to treatment

Reviewing achievement of treatment goals

Monitoring time-frame for achieving treatment goals