Elements and Performance Criteria
- Perform within legal and ethical parameters of professional practice
- Apply a clear understanding of legal and regulatory acts/guidelines as they impact on professional practice
- Address the implications of current legislation as incorporated into professional practice
- Apply codes of ethics, code of conduct and associated standards in professional practice
- Function within the scope of professional practice
- Handle client complaints sensitively and in line with organisation policies and procedures
- Handle all requests for client information as per state/territory legislation and organisation policies and procedures
- Apply an understanding of the legal framework
- Work with an understanding of how the law operates in relation to professional practice with regard to legal processes, principles and penalties
- Accurately apply concepts of negligence, duty of care and vicarious liability to professional practice
- Apply a clear understanding of the requirement to obtain consent for treatment
- Use common legal terms associated with own area of practice with a clear understanding of their meaning and implications
- Apply the legal requirements and expectations in relation to documented records and reports in professional practice
- Apply mandatory reporting processes in line with jurisdictional requirements
- Apply client privacy and confidentiality practices in line with legislative requirements and organisation policies and procedures
- Apply ethical concepts to professional practice
- Work with a clear understanding of the concept of ethics and its place in own professional practice
- Demonstrate ethical practice in all interactions with clients, relatives and carers and colleagues
- Identify, document and report any potential ethical issues if and as they arise
- Maintain an awareness of contemporary ethical issues that may impact on own professional practice
- Develop and implement strategies to resolve ethical issues within practice
- Take responsibility for addressing ethical issues and legal requirements in line with own work
- Complete all documentation in accordance with state/territory legislation and organisation policies and procedures
- Monitor compliance with legal obligations and requirements
- Support the rights, interests and needs of clients and their families
- Comply with legal responsibilities and duty of care in all care activities and interactions with clients and their families and carers
- Support client rights, interests and decisions
- Encourage the client to exercise their rights to make informed decisions regarding their care
- Demonstrate respect and support for the dignity of clients and their families
- Act as an advocate for client and family in line with practice standards, guidelines and codes