The purpose of the home care and domestic assistance to be provided is to assist a client to remain in their normal domestic environment, rather than in institutional care

Work will be performed within a prescribed range of functions involving a defined range of skills and known routines and procedures

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Obtain correct information regarding client and their environmental needs

1.1 Obtain client information and requirements for the home care or domestic assistance plan from supervisor or coordinator

1.2 Contact client and negotiate an appropriate time for service

1.3 Record details of visit/service as required

2. Provide information for client

2.1 Inform client of care or assistance to be provided

2.2 Inform client of limitations to service provision where required

2.3 Maintain client confidentiality

3. Monitor and maintain equipment

3.1 Check equipment regularly to identify service, repair or replacement needs

3.2 Refer to manufactures guidelines/instructions for equipment where appropriate

3.3 Arrange/report service and/or repairs

4. Implement home care or domestic assistance plan

4.1 Select appropriate equipment to undertake the required home care or domestic assistance tasks

4.2 Undertake tasks in a systematic sequence to ensure that the outcomes of the home care or assistance plan are met

4.3 Clean and store equipment in an orderly manner as required after tasks are completed

4.4 Follow relevant document procedures/criteria

4.5 Provide feedback regarding service to supervisor or coordinator according to established procedures

5. Maintain a safe and hygienic home environment for clients

5.1 Follow OHS guidelines in implementing the home care or assistance plan to avoid safety hazards for self and clients

5.2 Maintain established standards of hygiene for self and clients when implementing the home care or assistance plan

5.3 Follow established procedures for infection control where required when implementing the home care or assistance plan

6. Monitor client service

6.1 Obtain feedback from client to determine that procedure/service is satisfactory

6.2 Seek advice from appropriate sources to maintain best practice service delivery to clients

6.3 Address performance issues to maintain the agreed standard of service delivery

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:

Client rights and responsibilities

Dangerous/hazardous substances

First Aid and/or CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), subject to organisation policy, and if required by employer or contract for service provision

HACC (home and community care) service provision guidelines and standards

Industrial relations award

Infection control

Limits of own knowledge

Own immunisation status

Workplace health and safety

Essential Skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to

Communicate effectively with clients and on their behalf

Comply with OHS policies and procedures

Effectively implement, monitor and review client home care or domestic assistance plan

Use relevant equipment to maintain the required standard in the clients' environment

In addition, the candidate must be able 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:

Demonstrate experience in domestic cleaning

Drive a car (current driver's license)

Exercise patience and tolerance

Follow organisation policies and procedures relating to work performance including:

discipline

maintain confidentiality and privacy of clients

maintenance of insurance, registration and/or other legal requirements relating to use of motor vehicle

minimise disruption to the client's home environment

minimise safety hazards for self and others

select and use equipment and cleaning agents effectively

use correct hygiene procedures

Solve problems including the ability to use available resources and prioritise workload

Use time management strategies to set priorities

Use numeracy skills ranging from the ability to complete basic arithmetic calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and recording numbers

Use oral communication skills required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation, including skills in asking questions, providing clear information, listening to and understanding workplace instructions, and clarifying workplace instructions when necessary

organisation may require competence in English or a community language, depending on client group

Use reading and writing skills required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation

the level of skill may range from the ability to understand symbols used in OHS signs, to reading workplace safety pamphlets or procedure manuals, to reading labels and handling chemicals such as cleaning fluids

literacy support available in the workplace may range from having access to support or assistance from expert/mentor/supervisor, to having no communication supports available

literacy may be required in English or a community language.

Work with others and display empathy with client and relatives

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

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

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

The individual being assessed must have a current drivers license

Method of assessment may include:

Observation of work activities in client support

Observation of simulation and/or role play involving client support

Discussion of physical and/or behavioural contingency scenarios involving duty of care

Authenticated transcripts of relevant education/training courses

Recognition of relevant life/work experience

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

Authenticated reports of experience in working in a home care environment(Documentation associated with performance reviews, client feedback forms, supervisor/co-ordinator evaluations of work performance)

Training records associated with OH Safety training, Orientation/Induction Training

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

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

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.

Equipment may include:

Cleaning equipment

Domestic appliances

Whitegoods

Clients may be:

Cognitively impaired

From a range of cultures and language backgrounds

Hearing impaired

Indigenous persons

Mentally or intellectually disabled

Physically disabled or frail

Vision impaired

Young or aged

Home environment may include:

Caravan/mobile home

Group home

Hostel

House, flat or other dwelling

Inside and outside

Private or public housing

Residential care or other institution

Temporary accommodation

Maintenance of hygiene standards for the client may include: but is not limited to:

Checking clients stored food and drink for fitness for consumption

Cleanliness of food preparation area, bathing area, toilets

Home care or domestic assistance tasks may include but is not limited to::

Basic and simple gardening

Bed making

Cleaning electrical appliances

Cleaning kitchen, bathroom and toilet

Cleaning out refrigerator

Cleaning windows and other surfaces

Dusting

Emptying commodes

Ironing

Mopping

Vacuuming

Washing (including bringing in, hanging out and folding)

This unit contains Employability Skills