Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. 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) may also be included.
Breed type grooming characteristics may include:
breed-specific clipping regulations and standards for competition animals
metabolic and other animal health issues that may be impacted by coat condition, grooming methods and equipment
techniques used to groom animals to ensure their comfort in various climatic and lifestyle conditions.
Animal profile information may include:
breed or type
age, sex and reproductive status
contact details for owner
current body, skin and coat condition
known allergies or other health problems
history of previous grooming experience
injuries or other issues either reported or observed
vaccination status.
Risks
Risks in capture, handling and grooming animals may include:
aggressive animal behaviour
escape of animals and subsequent threat to safety of humans and other animals
heat stress and reaction to dryers/dryer stress
potential anxiety of animal when being handled by strangers
potential injuries to humans during capture, handling and grooming processes
potential stress and injury to animals during handling and grooming such as:
brush burns
clipper rash
dryer burn
heat stroke
nail bleeding
reaction to washing and grooming chemicals
transmission of disease and infection to humans and other animals
unfamiliarity of animal to grooming and washing equipment and processes to animals
use of water in close vicinity of electrical equipment.
Workplace health and safety risks when handling animals may include:
animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
handling of chemicals and medicines
gas leakage
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling including carrying, lifting and shifting
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
release of infective agents (animal and human)
slippery or uneven work surfaces
zoonoses.
Grooming Equipment may include:
brushes, combs, files, polishing pads and towels
coat cleaning and conditioning products
detangling and debris removing products
grooming stands
restraining equipment (e.g. collars, leads, muzzles and harnesses)
scissors, clippers, tweezers and stripping knives.
Signs of distress may include:
aggressive behaviour
inappetence
subdued behaviour
trembling
vocalisation.
Grooming techniques may include:
clean ears, eyes and teeth
detangle coat or hair
file or clip nails and horns
inspect animals for parasites and other health issues
remove and control external parasites
remove dander or scurf from skin
remove dirt, debris and contaminants from the coat and skin
remove old coat
restrain animal during grooming
stimulate skin and coat health by brushing and basic massage.
Coat trimming and equipment may include:
clipping techniques:
for ease of animal care
to remove excess hair in ears
to remove knots and contaminants in coat
equipment:
coat clippers, including electric, rechargeable, hand operated and assorted clipping blades
scissor and shears or various sizes
stripping knives and tweezers.
Grooming plan review may include:
further parasite control requirements
identifying follow-up grooming schedule to maintain coat and skin in optimal condition
reporting on animal behaviour during grooming to supervisor
reporting any injury or illness issues that have occurred during grooming to supervisor
reporting any health issues noticed during grooming or inspection of animal to supervisor
suggesting grooming or care products for home use.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this Unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
assess health and condition of animal's coat and determine grooming requirements with client/owner
follow workplace instructions to apply industry recognised grooming methods and procedures for different breeds of companion animals to maintain/restore animal comfort
handle animals in a safe and humane manner
use and maintain grooming equipment and supplies in accordance with organisational standards and manufacturers' specifications under supervision
build relationships and communicate effectively with clients regarding appropriate grooming requirements
maintain records and follow-up with clients as required.
The skills and knowledge required to provide grooming services for companion animal comfort must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this Unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in companion animal organisations that offer grooming services or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.
There must be access to a range of companion animal breeds as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.
Method of assessment
To ensure consistency of performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and over a number of assessment activities.
The assessment strategies must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this Unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
third-party evidence
portfolio.
This Unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other Units of Competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).