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Demonstrate knowledge of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a community field
work setting
Level
4
Credits
4
Purpose
This unit standard is intended for people involved in, or planning to become
involved in, community field work. Community field workers provide
education, support, information, and advocacy in a health or disability setting
in a consumer’s own home, a residential facility, and the community.
Community field workers work with a high degree of autonomy and are
responsible for making independent decisions in remote situations.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: define MS; describe
possible causes of MS and the symptoms frequently associated with MS; and
demonstrate knowledge of support and advocacy services for a person with
MS and their care partner(s) and family/whānau.
Subfield
Community Support
Domain
Community Field Work
Status
Registered
Status date
20 May 2008
Date version published
20 May 2008
Planned review date
31 December 2013
Entry information
Open.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and
industry.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Community Support Services Industry Training
Organisation Limited
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0024
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
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Special notes
The primary references for this unit standard are:
White, Health Professional’s Handbook (New Zealand, MS Society, 2000); Graham, J,
Multiple Sclerosis – A Self-Help Guide to its Management (London, Thorsons, 1998);
Jelinek, G, Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis: Natural and Medical Therapies to Prevent
its Progression (South Melbourne, Hyland House, 2000); What is MS – a patient guide for
learning about MS and its management (Biogen Australia Pty Ltd, 2002).
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Define MS.
Performance criteria
1.1
MS is defined in terms of its pathology.
1.2
MS is defined in terms of the functional effects of the tissue damage in the
central nervous system.
1.3
Types of MS are defined in terms of their clinical course and pathology.
Range
relapsing remitting MS, secondary progressive MS, primary
progressive MS, progressive relapsing MS, benign MS.
Element 2
Describe possible causes of MS.
Performance criteria
2.1
A possible cause is described in terms of the interaction between environmental
and genetic factors.
2.2
A possible cause is described in terms of the influence of viral infections and the
concept of autoimmune disease.
Element 3
Describe symptoms frequently associated with MS.
Performance criteria
3.1
Presenting symptoms are described in accordance with their defining
characteristics and in accordance with the primary references.
Range
vision disturbances, loss of muscle strength, altered sensation,
pain, impaired balance and co-ordination, muscle spasms, fatigue,
bladder and bowel problems, altered sexual function, memory
loss, mood changes.
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3.2
Possible factors that exacerbate the effects of MS are described in terms of
triggers and effects.
Range
may include but is not limited to – hot or cold intolerance,
intercurrent infections, psychological factors.
Element 4
Demonstrate knowledge of support and advocacy services for a person with MS and their
care partner(s) and family/whānau.
Performance criteria
4.1
Interventions that are used to alleviate the symptoms of MS are described in
terms of their accessibility, effects, and contra-indications.
4.2
Support needs for a person with MS are described for any three symptoms in
terms of accessibility and resource availability in the community.
Range
pharmacological, non-pharmacological.
4.3
Support needs of the care partner(s) and family/whānau of the person with MS
are described in terms of accessibility and resource availability in the
community.
4.4
An agency that advocates on behalf of the person with MS, their care partner(s)
and the family/whānau is described in terms of the services it provides and their
availability.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP 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.
Comments on this unit standard
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
20967 version 2
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Please contact the Community Support Services Industry Training Organisation Limited
enquiries@cssito.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit
standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016