Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 3:11 PM AWST

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Assess children's health

Assess children's health

Unit of competency
National Code
HLTAMAT004
State Code
OEO18
TGA Status
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
15/12/2022
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
11/08/2023
Field of Education
061305 - Indigenous Health
Original Release Date
11/08/2023
Nominal Hours
155
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to complete health assessments of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children aged under 15 years as part of a multidisciplinary health care team. It requires the ability to complete children’s physical examinations and tests, and to assess their health, growth and development.Health assessments may be routinely scheduled at specific intervals, could be completed when a child presents with a specific health issue or as part of ongoing care for diagnosed childhood conditions.Skills for providing children’s health care, including the development and implementation of care plans, are covered in a complementary unit.This unit is specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people working as health practitioners. They work as part of a multidisciplinary primary health care team to provide primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients.The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.No regulatory requirement for certification, occupational or business licensing is linked to this unit at the time of publication. For information about practitioner registration and accredited courses of study, contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia (ATSIHPBA).
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Obtain information about child and determine scope of assessment.
  • 1.1. Complete health assessments according to scope of practice and organisational standard treatment protocols.
  • 1.2. Consult relevant health professionals and available documentation about child’s health.
  • 1.3. Establish trust and rapport with child and their family or carer using culturally safe and age appropriate communications in all interactions.
  • 1.4. Consult with child, family or carer to obtain child and family medical and social history and identify specific presenting problems.
  • 1.5. Obtain information about effectiveness of any current medications, treatments and wellbeing strategies.
  • 1.6. Explain organisational requirements for maintaining confidentiality of information and permissions for disclosure.
  • 1.7. Accurately document child’s history according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • 1.8. Determine specific examination and test requirements from information gathered.
2. Complete physical examination.
  • 2.1. Explain the reason and procedures for each examination to the child, as appropriate, and their family or carer, confirm understanding and obtain informed consent.
  • 2.2. Use age appropriate strategies that ensure child’s comfort during all examinations and tests.
  • 2.3. Implement required infection control precautions according to examination requirements.
  • 2.4. Use correct protocols to measure vital signs and identify any significant variation from normal reference range.
  • 2.5. Conduct physical examination and clinical tests based on observations and child’s presentation, and with respect for community values, beliefs and gender roles.
  • 2.6. Accurately record details of all measurements, examinations and tests according to organisational policies and procedures.
3. Assess childhood growth and development.
  • 3.1. Select and utilise validated screening tools fit for the purpose of the assessment.
  • 3.2. Measure height and weight and take other physical measurements indicated in screening tools.
  • 3.3. Assess socioemotional, cognitive and language development using appropriate screening tools, observations and discussions.
  • 3.4. Accurately record all growth and development data according to screening tool instructions and organisational procedures.
4. Evaluate, present and confirm health assessment findings.
  • 4.1. Evaluate examination and test results to identify signs and symptoms of common health conditions for children.
  • 4.2. Recognise, from examinations and tests, signs and symptoms of potentially serious childhood health problems and trigger referral for further investigation.
  • 4.3. Recognise significant variations from normal range of childhood growth and development parameters.
  • 4.4. Determine own interpretation of child’s current health and developmental status based on history, presenting problems, examination and test results.
  • 4.5. Provide clear and accurate reports and consult with other health care team members to verify results and confirm child’s health and developmental status.
  • 4.6. Recognise signs of children at risk and initiate referrals and any mandatory reports according to procedural and legal requirements and within scope of own responsibility.
  • 4.7. Update client records with health assessment details according to organisational policies and procedures.
5. Discuss assessment outcomes with child and their family or carer.
  • 5.1. Provide information about verified assessment results in plain language using culturally safe and age appropriate communication.
  • 5.2. Discuss options for treatments and other interventions.
  • 5.3. Encourage child, as appropriate, and their family or carer to question and clarify outcomes, and purpose of potential treatments and interventions.
  • 5.4. Confirm understanding and document information provided in client records.
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