Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT

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.


Nutritional needs refers to:
Needs arising from a specific condition/disease
Requirements to meet specific health outcomes
Prevention/prophylactic care
Needs arising from analysis of Anthropometric and biochemical data


Specific health outcome may include:
Weight loss
Palliation/prevention/prophylaxis and/or management of specific conditions/diseases
Relief from specific symptoms


Specialised nutritional treatment:
Pharmacological dosage of nutritional supplements
Supplementation through foods
Modifications to eating and/or lifestyle patterns
Detoxification or elimination regimes


Various life stage may include:
Childhood
Adolescence
Male and female adulthood
Geriatric


Consent for treatment includes:
Informed consent according to local and national regulations and guidelines
Consent from appropriate adult in the case of a minor or ward of the State


Factors which interfere with the effectiveness of treatment may include:
Other medical treatment being undertaken
Other western medicinal dietary intervention
Client's physical and psychological readiness and/or wellness
Cultural factors
Contraindications to nutritional supplementation or certain dietary changes (ie modified protein intake)
Post treatment activity

EVIDENCE GUIDE

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
Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic) is essential for assessment of this unit
Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
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
Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender
Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:
interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace
scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units
holistic/integrated assessment including:
working within the practice framework
performing a health assessment
assessing the client
planning treatment
providing treatment


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
An appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
Relevant journals
Relevant texts or medical manuals
Relevant paper-based/video assessment instruments
Access to internet or on-line research information
Appropriate assessment environment
Skilled assessors


Method of assessment may include:
Practical demonstration and observation in the work place (if possible)
Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice
Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (laboratory). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision
Simulations
Explanations of technique
Oral questioning and discussion


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