Page 3 of 3
Title / Identify infectious conditions and apply infection control practices in an aged care, health, or disability context
Level / 2 / Credits / 4
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify signs of infectious conditions that may require absence from work; apply infection control precautions; and describe reporting requirements and emergency procedures for infection outbreaks and infection control accidents and/or incidents, in an aged care, health, or disability context.
Classification / Health, Disability, and Aged Support > Health and Disability Principles in Practice
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1 Legislation and codes relevant to this unit standard include:
Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights) Regulations 1996;
Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Human Rights Act 1993;
Privacy Act 1993.
2 Standards relevant to this unit standard include:
NZS 8134.0:2008 Health and disability services Standards – Health and disability services (general) Standard;
NZS 8134.1:2008 Health and disability services Standards – Health and disability services (core) Standards;
NZS 8134.3:2008 Health and disability services Standards – Health and disability services (infection prevention and control) Standards;
NZS 8158:2003 Home and Community Support Sector Standard; available at http://www.standards.co.nz/.
3 This unit standard cannot be assessed against in a simulated environment. For assessment, candidates must demonstrate competence in the workplace through paid or unpaid employment, or in placements in a service provider workplace negotiated by an education provider.
4 Definitions
The aseptic technique refers to a set of specific procedures and practices including sanitising, disinfecting, and cleaning that aim to limit or prevent contamination, infection, and the spread of pathogens.
Candidate refers to the person seeking credit for this unit standard.
Organisation’s policies and procedures are the policies and procedures of the employing organisation of the candidate and include ethical codes, standards, and other organisational requirements.
Person refers to a user of services in a health or disability context in either a residential care facility or in a private home – the person’s own or a friend’s, group’s, or family member’s.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify signs of infectious conditions that may require absence from work.
Evidence requirements
1.1 Signs of infectious conditions that may require absence from work are identified in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
Range evidence is required of signs for a minimum of two infectious conditions.
Outcome 2
Apply infection control precautions in an aged care, health, or disability context.
Evidence requirements
2.1 The aseptic technique is applied in specific situations within an aged care, health, or disability context.
Range evidence is required of the application of the aseptic technique in a minimum of two situations and/or tasks.
2.2 Hand hygiene procedures are applied in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures on infection prevention and control.
2.3 Personal protective items are selected and utilised correctly in situations and/or tasks related to supporting a in an aged care, health, or disability context.
Range personal protective items may include but are not limited to – gloves, goggles or glasses, aprons, gowns, hats, masks, alcohol hand rubs;
evidence is required of the selection and utilisation of a minimum of two personal protective items in two different situations and/or tasks.
2.4 Sharps and other clinical waste are handled and disposed of in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
2.5 Methods of handling soiled linen and clothing are applied in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
2.6 Reusable instruments are processed and stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and/or the organisation’s policies and procedures.
Outcome 3
Describe reporting requirements and emergency procedures for infection outbreaks and infection control accidents and/or incidents in an aged care, health, or disability context.
Range infection outbreaks and infection control accidents and/or incidents may include but are not limited to exposure to – bacterial infections, viral infections, parasite and worm infections, yeast and fungal infections;
evidence is required for two infection outbreaks and two infection control accidents and/or incidents.
Evidence requirements
3.1 Reporting requirements for infection outbreaks and infection control accidents and/or incidents are described in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
3.2 Emergency procedures for infection outbreaks and infection control accidents and/or incidents are described in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
Replacement information / This unit standard was replaced by unit standard 28535.This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for Assessment /Registration / 1 / 18 February 2011 / 31 December 2018
Review / 2 / 16 April 2015 / 31 December 2018
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0024
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Community Support Services ITO LimitedSSB Code 101814 / Ó New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut