AHCWRK509 Provide specialist advice to clients

General Instructions:

Create seven (7) written (word processed) reports based on one scenario from each group below (a total of seven)

Each group addresses a different but common scenario under which you might need to provide advice to a client.

You will need to research each scenario to be able to adequately prepare a report with sufficient detail.

Regarding the style of the report, you must use the approach of it being either:

1. a ‘fact sheet’ that someone might be given OR
2. as a personal response to a client enquiry.

(For example, a ‘fact sheet’ from a plant nursery, hardware store or ABC Gardening Australia web site. A personal response may be a letter or email attachment including the same detail from a fact sheet, but presented in a more personal style)

When preparing the document, consider the needs of any client by explaining any horticultural terminology and not using jargon.

Use photos and/or diagrams to enhance the understanding of the document and for people who prefer information in a visual format.

You should include any information related to environmental sustainability where relevant – for example, suggesting:

• low water requirement plants,
• reducing water requirements through installing appropriate irrigation
• limiting the use of chemicals / using IPM

You should include any pertinent information regarding legal issues, such as the need for a DA or other approvals for some landscaping work.

Reports must:

• Be a minimum of one page each
• Be professionally formatted
• Give correct botanical and common names of plants
• Use photos as appropriate
• Provide commercial names of products
• Address any legal issues
• Address environmental sustainability where appropriate
• Use standard terminology – however this may be explained in plain English
• Provide the specific information listed under each scenario as a minimum
• Include a ‘references’ section listing any texts or web sites that you referred to.

Assessment Criteria:

To achieve a satisfactory result, your assessor will be looking for your ability to demonstrate the following key skills/tasks/knowledge to an acceptable industry standard:

• Develop and maintain industry wide specialist knowledge
• Provide a professional service to client enquiries and needs
• Products, treatments, services of the industry
• environmental sustainability and land use issues relevant to the industry
• consultation methods, techniques and protocols
• current enterprise, government and local council policy, legislation and regulations
• Implement professional practice in stakeholder consultation and report documentation
• Use industry standard terminology
• Use research skills regularly to build a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of specialist information from industry and other sources
• Identify characteristics of industry practices, products and services and analyse using available documentation
• Document information and maintain in a format consistent with enterprise requirements
• Apply acquired knowledge to improve quality within personal work areas
• Identify legislative, regulatory and industry requirements relating to own work
• Use work practices that reflect sensitivity to client's requirements, specific needs and cultural, family and individual differences
• Prepare information relevant to client's needs
• Use research skills to find verifiable evidence in support of information and document in the appropriate format
• Structure information to identify clear benefits to clients and the organisation
• Document and present information in a professional format and style to the client for consideration and discussion