SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Assist with Palliative Care 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119565  Assist with Palliative Care 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Ancillary Health Care 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services Rehabilitative Health/Services 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 1  NQF Level 01  6 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for persons required to assist with the provision of palliative care to persons whose disease is no longer responsive to curative treatment and to provide relevant information to clients and families in respect of symptom management and pain control.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the concept of palliative care
  • Assist in the management of total pain
  • Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of grief, loss and bereavement 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Communication at ABET level 3
  • Mathematical Literacy at ABET level 3.
  • Knowledge of the community and the ability to communicate effectively within their cultural context

    Competency in the following unit standard or equivalent:
  • "Assess the client's situation and assist and support the client and family to manage home based health care" (NLRD ID: 9827) 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the concept of palliative care. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The different role players in the palliative care team are identified in terms of their respective roles. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The team includes the health workers, the client and the family.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The practical application of palliative care provides the best possible quality of life for the particular situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Perceptions of death are explained in terms of personal, cultural and religious beliefs. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The importance of confidentiality is explained in terms of the client's right to privacy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The perceptions of the process of death and dying are explained in terms of grief, loss and bereavement. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Assist in the management of total pain. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Total pain includes physical, social, spiritual and emotional pain. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Total pain is described in terms of the factors that cause and influence pain. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The characteristics of pain are described in terms of the factors influencing the relief of pain. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Pain is treated in accordance with the nature of the pain and available resources. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The needs of the client and the family are identified in terms of the particular situation and actions taken to alleviate pain and suffering. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Needs include acute and chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration, respiratory conditions, psycho-social and spiritual needs, difficulty in chewing and / or swallowing.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of grief, loss and bereavement. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The needs of the client and social group are identified in terms of ways of dealing with the feelings associated with death. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Resources within the team and the community that could assist the client and social group are identified in terms of the specific needs. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Resources include financial, spiritual, emotional and support organisations.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Personal feelings and experiences relating to loss and grief are identified in terms of monitoring own coping levels and potential actions that may be taken. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The ability to take responsibility for the maintenance of self-health when providing palliative care is demonstrated in terms of recognising the need for and access to support. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a memorandum of understanding with the relevant ETQA
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a memorandum of understanding with the relevant ETQA
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a memorandum of understanding with the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Names and functions of palliative care resources, relevant terms

    Purpose of:
  • Specific referrals and treatment for palliative care
  • Community practices regarding death, bereavement and funeral customs

    Procedures and techniques specific to palliative care:
  • Death and funeral
  • Bereavement

    Regulations, legislation, agreements, policies, standards:
  • Local policies and procedures including death and burial

    Theory, rules, principles, laws:
  • Ethical and legal principles
  • Patient rights

    Relationships, systems:
  • Experience in family and other interpersonal relationships
  • Working with a multi-disciplinary team and referral system
  • Working with community members and communication system 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems related to the physical, social, emotional and spiritual condition of the patient. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with client, family and community as a member of a palliative care team. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively in a palliative care context. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect analyse organise and evaluate information about clients, family and community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively with clients, family and members of the palliative care team in order to facilitate palliative care. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively with regard to available equipment for the control of distressing symptoms. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems with regard to community, community structures, cultural sensitivity and spiritual sensitivity. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Supplementary information:

    Specified requirements

    Legal:
  • Work within the guidelines of the scope of practise of the Ancillary Health Worker

    Site specific

    Learners must work in accordance with the protocols, procedures and policies of the relevant work environment

    Credit justification:

    Total hours required by the learner to achieve the required outcomes:

    Activity - Hours
    Classroom learning - 25
    On-the-job learning - 25
    Self directed learning - 5
    Coaching required - 5
    Other
    Total - 60

    Credits achieved: 6 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  49606   General Education and Training Certificate: Ancillary Health Care  Level 1  NQF Level 01  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  HW SETA 
    Elective  64749   National Certificate: Community Health Work  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  HW SETA 
    Elective  80786   National Certificate: Home-Care Practices  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SERVICES 
    Elective  49279   National Certificate: Victim Empowerment and Support  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  HW SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.