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.


Client information may include:
Completion of medical/dental history questionnaire
Consent form for minors
Contact details
Date of birth
Information from carer/guardian, where appropriate
Language/s spoken
Medical practitioner details and medical history
Medical/dental health insurance fund
Name (family name, given names and preferred name)
Name and contact details of parent, next-of-kin, guardian or advocate, if relevant
Pension details, if relevant
Private and government entitlement, if relevant
Referral and source


Clients who require immediate attention include but are not limited to:
Clients presenting with dental and or maxillofacial trauma including avulsed teeth
Clients presenting with serious dental infection
Clients presenting with significant dental haemorrhage
Clients who have a systemic progression of their dental problems


Clients given priority include but are not limited to:
Children with toothache
Clients whose medical condition may complicate their dental management
Clients with significant learning or physical disabilities which may affect their ability to wait for treatment
Pregnant women


Clients who present with pain but do have a risk of serious medical or dental complication include but are not limited to:
Clients with mucosal lesions such as mouth ulcers
Dental abscesses without marked facial swelling
Fractured filling and broken teeth
Toothache from dental pathology


Charts andrecords may include but are not limited to:
Completed medical questionnaires
Consent documents obtained for treatment
Copies of correspondence relating to the client
Dental charts and dental treatment records
Diagnostic models
Notes made by staff following telephone conversations
Photographs
Radiographs, tracings and measurements
Records of financial transactions
Reports to and from referring dentists and specialists


Accurate and legible records may include:
Avoiding the use of abbreviations, unless widely used in dentistry
Dating computer records should be dated and made in a chronological order
Entering information promptly onto the client record and in chronological order
Noting the reason for the correction
Recording the date of each entry
Writing legibly and clearly in ink


Personal protective equipment may include:
Examination gloves that comply with AS/NZS 4011 and surgical gloves that comply with AS/NZS 4179
Footwear to protect from dropped sharps and other contaminated items
Glasses, goggles or face-shields
Gowns and waterproof aprons that comply with AS 3789.2 and AS 3789.3
Guidelines for latex allergic clients and staff
Surgical face masks that comply with AS 4381


Monitoring the client's well-being may include:
Alerting operator to any observed client change
Communicating appropriately with client and operator
Giving the client an appropriate opportunity to ask questions
Observing client comfort
Providing assurance

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 workplace performance is desirable for assessment of this unit
Consistent compliance with infection control guidelines, occupational health and safety policies, Australian and New Zealand Standards and legislative requirements as they relate to the dental assistant's specific job role
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of workplace situations


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Where, for reasons of safety, access to equipment and resources and space, assessment takes place away from the workplace, simulations should be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible


Method of assessment
Observation in the work place is desirable
Evidence of essential knowledge and understanding may be provided by:
traditional or online (computer-based) assessment
written assignments/projects
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice
Questioning
Staff and/or client feedback
Supporting statement of supervisor
Authenticated evidence of relevant work experience and/or formal/informal learning
Role play/simulation


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