Elements and Performance Criteria

Relevant sources may include written or verbal instructions from:
Health professionals
Registered nurse
Supervisor
Patient records
Care plans
Home care coordinator
Community nurses
Indigenous health workers
Patient or client

Others with whom interaction is required in regard to patient/client services may include:
Other staff and team members
Service units or departments, or other agencies
Family members, carers and friends of patients/clients
Professional representatives or agents of the patient/client such as medical specialists, social workers, therapists, teachers and/or spiritual, community or other representative
Domestic worker, family member or friend
Interpreter who has relevant languages, if required, however interpreting would probably be undertaken by a health professional in an acute setting

Recording client information may include:
Documentation in care plan
Patient care documentation
Client needs
Data collection

Final check of client comfort and safety may include:
Access to refreshments, food, communication equipment, personal items
Appropriately clothed, appliances and aids or prostheses fitted or at hand
Emotional and psychological comfort
Security check
Location of pets if applicable

Care provided under supervision, direction or as an assistant may include:
Supervision of patient/client activity only, or direct 'hands on' care
Dressing and undressing
Showering
Drying
Continence management
Shaving
Pre-operative shaves
Toileting
Washing/sponging
Shampoo
Grooming, applying skin care and makeup
Cleaning teeth or dentures
Massaging
Transferring and mobilising
Removal or replacement of hearing aids
Assistance with aids, prostheses and orthosis
Observation of skin integrity
Bed making
Assistance with eating and drinking
Emotional support
Specific care needs of specific patients or clients

Directed assistance will depend on environment including:
Hospital and acute care
Residential care
Hostel care
Community care
Home care

Communication may be in:
English
Sign language
Community language as required by the service/organisation

Individual differences of patients and clients may include:
Physical
Cognitive/mental or intellectual issues that may impact on communication
Cultural
Religious/spiritual
Social
Age
Language literacy and numeracy abilities that may impact on communication
Sexual preference

Communication may be via:
Continuing interaction with patients or other clients
Verbal conversations either in person or via telephone
Written notes by post or electronic media

Critical aspects of assessment must include:
Effective communication skills with patients and clients
Effective relationship management with patients and clients
Ability to safely perform care tasks
Maintain patient/client confidentiality and privacy

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units:
This unit can be assessed independently, however this unit may be concurrently assessed with:
HLTCSD5A Assist with client/patient movement where care assistance tasks involve assistance with client/patient movement

Essential knowledge required include:
Knowledge of relevant care programs and plans and assistance which may include:
Purpose of continence programs and knowledge of continence aids
Causes of loss of skin integrity, implications for the patient and processes to maintain skin integrity
Personal care
Infection control procedures
Awareness of relevant OHS guidelines, especially manual handling
Working within role and responsibility
Working effectively and following directions
Complying with relevant policies, protocols, guidelines and procedures
Basis appreciation of body systems
Knowledge of wheelchairs, other aids, prostheses and orthosis depending upon setting and patient/client casemix
Organisational policies and procedures for privacy and confidentiality of information provided by clients and others
Knowledge of cultures relevant to the particular service

Essential skills required include:
Communicating in a non discriminatory, supportive and inclusive manner
Listening and responding to communication initiatives of client
Demonstrating respect for client
Roles and responsibilities of self and other workers within the service/organisation
Establishing and maintaining relationships taking into account individual differences
Using effective listening techniques
Using appropriate verbal and non verbal communication styles
Reading and writing skills - literacy competence required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by organisation. The level of skill may range from the ability to understand OHS policy, to reading workplace safety or procedure manuals, to writing reports. 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.
Oral communication skills - language competence required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation. Assessors should look for skills in asking questions, providing clear information, listening to and understanding workplace instructions, and clarifying workplace instructions when necessary. The organisation may require competence in English or community language, depending on client group.
Numeracy skills may range from the ability to complete basic arithmetic calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division to recording numbers
Problem solving skills required include the ability to use available resources and prioritise workload
Ability to deal with conflict
Ability to work with others and display empathy with patient and relatives

Resource implications:
Access to relevant workplace or appropriately simulated environment where assessment can take place
Relevant organisational policy, guidelines, procedures and protocols

Method of assessment:
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
Authenticated reports of providing client support
Case studies and scenarios as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies in client support

Context of assessment:
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace setting under the normal range of workplace conditions. Assessment may be conducted on one occasion but should include a range of clients, reflecting the diverse nature of these for whom service is provided in the workplace context.

A diversity of assessment tasks is also essential for holistic assessment.