Foundations Skills (Level 2)
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Introduction (version 2)
The National Certificate in Community Support Services (Foundations Skills) is designed to recognise the knowledge and skills required of support workers during their induction into work in a health or disability setting. Holders of this qualification are able to provide support for consumers in a health or disability setting.
Those awarded this entry-level qualification are able to understand infection control requirements, support a consumer’s quality of life, provide a safe and secure environment, understand their role, understand how to handle equipment and people, understand how to work safely, meet the requirements of the consumer’s service delivery plan, understand how to use pre-packaged medication and understand a consumer’s rights and responsibilities.
This Qualification comprises of 43 credits. Holders of this Qualification can gain 17 credits towards the level 3 National Certificate in Community Support (Core Competencies).
Completion Timeframe
The average timeframe in which people complete this programme is 9 months
More Information
For information on Foundation Skills download this brochure
Cost
The cost of this Qualification is $150 (incl GST) per trainee. Workplaces maybe eligible for a $100 Assessment Rebate for every successful trainee completion. Click here for more.
Please note that a previous version of the Foundation Skills brochure incorrectly stated the price of this qualification as $200 (Inc GST).
Updates and Notes
Please note the following updates to published assessment materials:
Pre-packaged Medication Workbook Updated - 23685 V1
Careerforce has updated the workbook for Unit Standard 23685, Pre-packaged medication, V1. The change is on the topic of tamper proof cassettes, and affects pages 22 and 38 to 41. The revised workbook contains clearer information about what a tamper proof cassette looks like and how it is used, and includes a photograph of a commonly used type.
Please note that the previous workbooks are not wrong on this topic - the new version is an improvement which contains more detail rather than a correction.
Workbooks sent out from now on will be this latest issue, which is issue number 1.1, dated July 2010
The Trainee assessment portfolio for US 23685 v1 Pre-packaged medication, on page 4 question 2, asks for trainees to "Demonstrate or describe two advantages and two disadvantages for the consumer associated with pre-packaged medication (1.2)." However, the column for ticking when competent only asks for advantages. Pls change the bottom four boxes in this column to read Disadvantage 1, Disadvantage 2, etc. The updated version is available as a PDF above.
Looking after me - 23453 v1
The Trainee assessment portfolio for US 23453 v1 Looking after me, on page 4, asks for trainees to complete a diary for a week (1.1).However, after feedback from assessors and trainees, we now only expect this to be completed for three working days of a typical week. The associated Workplace Assessors Portfolio has also been updated and is available from Careerforce. The updated TAP is available as a PDF above.
The workbook has missing text from page 40. The entire learning activity should read:
Learning activity
For this workplace scenario, there are two parts to each question. First, decide whether the problem is urgent, not urgent, important or not important and put a tick in the quadrant. Then decide which response you think is the right one and circle your answer in the yellow panel.
Tane is an eight-year-old boy who has Down Syndrome and an associated hearing impairment. Liam works with Tane for four hours a week, supporting him with after school sports and social activities. Today, they are going swimming.
Question 1
Liam and Tane have just gone into the pool changing rooms at the swimming pool. As Tane is taking off his sweatshirt he tears the shoulder seam. What should Liam do?
- A Leave the pool immediately and take Tane home to fix the sweatshirt.
- B Continue the swimming outing but tell Tane’s Mum about the torn sweatshirt when they get back to Tane’s house.
- C See if the reception at the pool has a sewing kit, and fix the tear before going for a swim.
Question 2
While Tane is walking towards the pool he cuts his big toe on a floor tile. There is a lot of blood on the tiles beside the pool and Tane is crying. What should Liam do?
- A Ask the lifeguard to help with first aid, let him know where the blood is so that it can be cleaned, then make a decision about whether or not to continue to swim.
- B Tell Tane not to make such a fuss and help him get into the pool.
- C Jump in the pool with Tane and after the swim apply a plaster from the first aid kit in his car.
Safety and Security - 20830 v2
US 20830 v2 Workplace Assessment Portfolio (WAP)– Page 4, Question 1, box 3 details Report a hazard . If the version you are using details Keep a hazard register it is out of date and shouldn’t be used.
