Elements and Performance Criteria

Assessment includes formal and informal processes, which are part of individual needs identification, observation and on-going monitoring. Not all staff will be involved in any or all aspects of assessment.

Factors which affect abilities to carry out activities of daily living may include:
Health
Mobility and its decline
Illness
Smoking
Diet
Exercise
Weight
Occupational exposure
Sexual activity
Alcohol and other drugs
Sunlight exposure
Social factors
Psychological factors
Environment
Behavioural difficulties
Wandering
Aggression
Age

Activities of daily living
Are all activities, which assist the person to maintain or enhance their physical wellbeing, e.g. mobility, nutrition, dressing. They do not include medical or clinical interventions.

Consultation may include:
Asking and clarifying
Identifying and exploring the client's perception about their needs
Consultation with family and friends
Identification of previous patterns and preferences
Perceptions about needs
Confidentiality
Privacy and dignity requirements

Observation, analysis and determination of needs may need to be made in consultation with or verified by other relevant carers and specialists carers.

Information provided to the clients and the client's carer to facilitate an informed choice may be relayed:
Verbally or in writing

Clinical records and case history may include:
All records related to the client's health status
Assessments
Plans of care
Progress notes
Test results
Continence management charts
Activities programs

Input may be provided by diverse members of a multi-disciplinary team or by more limited numbers of carers and health workers, internal and external to an organisation. Not all carers will have access to all or any parts of the records or responsibilities related to completing them.

Individual service delivery strategies may be based on:
Behavioural difficulties
Prevention and response to distress
Activities of daily living
Health

Risk factors for the clients may include:
All areas to which the clients has actual or potential access
Obstacles and hazards
Furniture
Carpets
Electrical cords and appliances
Hot water

Risk will also vary according to any degree of mental confusion and mobility and stability of clients.

Risk factors for self and other carers may include:
Physical limitation
Manual handling (lifting and transferring clients or equipment safely)
Deciding to proceed alone in situations where assistance is required
Current and habitual behaviour
Mental and physical status of clients

Unusual circumstances may include:
Uncharacteristic behaviours
Environmental hazards
Accident
Incidents

Confusion and decline in mental health may be evidenced by decline in memory, intellectual functions and personality, disorientation of time, place and persons.

Critical aspects of assessment:
Consultation with clients, carers, family etc.
Consultation with other workers/services as relevant and required
Awareness of role of own service/organisation and that of other services/organisations

Essential knowledge:
Organisational policies and practices
Common health problems and their effects
Statements of rights, eg. Relevant outcomes standards documents
Common risks to client's safety
Own role and responsibilities
The role and responsibilities of other health workers
The role and availability of home maintenance and modification services
Occupational health and safety
Funding program guidelines
Social and political context of aged care services
Depending on the work role or services provided, specific knowledge of particular groups or issues may be required.

Essential skills:
Interviewing and assessment skills
Oral communication skills including asking questions, clarifying meaning, providing information and checking for understanding. Ability to take part in sustained interpersonal exchanges for the purpose of developing services, gathering or providing information. Language used may be English or a community language depending on the service/organisation and client group
Written communication skills required to fulfil the job role as specified by the service/organisation. Written skills may include the completion of reports or documentation, matching style of writing to its purpose and intended audience (eg. Funding reports, referrals to other agencies). Language used may be English or a community language depending on client group and organisation. Communication support is incorporated as required (eg. Using dictionaries, medical books, other reports)
Reading skills required to fulfil the job role as specified by the service/organisation. Skills may include reading written material such as client records, case histories, research and information on medical conditions (eg. Latest research on dementia), policies, procedure manuals and program materials
Consumer perspective

Resource implications:
Access to appropriate workplace where assessment can take place, or
Simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment

Consistency in performance:
Assessment could be conducted in one time period but must include a range of client needs

Context of assessment:
This unit will be most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions