Speak Out December 2019 V2 DIGITAL EDITION

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in practice

Working with allied health assistants

Speech Pathology Australia recognises that allied health assistants (AHAs) can increase efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of allied health services, delivering delegated care under the direct supervision of an allied health professional as well as providing assistance with the delivery and administration of speech pathology services. The Association is also aware that NDIS participants are increasingly looking to include AHA supports in their plans. Some of the benefits of working with an AHA are outlined below. AHAs can: • provide a more intensive therapy program for clients; • model and reinforce effective strategies for parents/ carers to use in the home environment; • contribute to capacity building interventions by supporting participants and their carers in generalising new skills into natural settings such as in their home and or in the classroom; • undertake observations and other activities in the participant’s everyday environment, for example, identifying potential barriers or facilitators to communication for the client with peers, family members, and other communication partners; • release the speech pathologist to perform more complex tasks, while they are working with a participant; and • support provision of services where access to a speech pathologist may be limited. Speech Pathology Australia has developed a number of resources for speech pathologists considering working with an AHA and speech pathology students, NDIS participants and individuals about the role and training of AHAs, through project Speech Pathologists and Allied Health Assistants. Documents include: Allied health assistants: their role, training and duties when working with a speech pathologist. Working with an AHA to support clients, including NDIS participants. Training and working as an allied health assistant. Speech pathology students working as an AHA. Working with AHAs: information for speech pathology clients, including NDIS participants

There are also several templates to support supervision and training and coaching needs for delegated tasks and case examples of tasks AHAs could be asked to support. Many thanks to project officer, Adele Wallis who conducted a literature review and gathered information about the benefits and challenges regarding working with AHAs and information, which guided the production of these resources. Thanks also to the

many members who contributed to the project. Resources can be found on the SPA website.

Nichola Harris Manager Professional Practice Cathy Olsson Senior Advisor Disability

Allied health assistants (AHA) Their role, traininganddutieswhen workingwith speechpathologists

FAQs from SPA members

Is the termalliedhealthassistant theonly termused inAustralia? No.The term allied health assistant (AHA) has often been used as an umbrella term for a range of job titles forworkers that support thework of allied health professionals, including speechpathologists.Other terms used include rehabilitation assistant, therapy assistant, therapy aide, and supportworker.Different termsmaybe used indifferent settings and indifferent locations. Whatarealliedhealthassistants? Allied health assistants support thedelivery of allied health services, under thedirect supervision of an allied healthprofessional.SomeAHA’s gain a generalist qualificationwhere theyworkwith a numberof allied health professionals and othersmay gain a specialistqualification where theyworkwith one allied health group (e.g., speech pathology). What typesofcoursesareavailable for AHAs? AHA’s can complete either aCertificate III or IVdetails of which are outlinedbelow. Certificate III –AlliedHealthAssistance (HLT33015) AHAswith Level III training operate underdirect supervision anddo not conductprograms or therapeutic interventions. Certificate IV –AlliedHealthAssistance (HLT43015) AHAswith Level IV training conduct therapeutic andprogram related activities under the guidance and supervision of an allied healthprofessional. Certificate IV –AlliedHealthAssistance (SpeechPathology skill set) (HLTSS00057) These unitsprovide credit towards theAlliedHealth Assistance course (above). AHAswith Level IV (SpeechPathology skill set) training are able toprovide speechpathology relatedprograms or therapeutic interventions under the guidance and supervision of a speechpathologist.

Please findbelow responses toquestions SpeechPathologyAustralia (SPA)members frequently ask about allied health assistants. Formoredetailed informationplease refer to SPA’sdocument: ParametersofPractice:Guidelines fordelegation,collaborationand teamwork in speechpathology practice (2007) SPA’sPositionStatement:Working

Speech pathology students working as an allied health assistant (AHA)

WithSupportWorkers (2014)andSPA’s otherdocumentsaboutworkingwith AlliedHealthAssistants SPA’s InformationSheetabouthow to workwithanAHA to supportclients includingNDISparticipants

SpeechPathologyAustralia is aware that speech pathology students arebeing employed as allied health assistants (AHAs).TheAssociation supports the employmentof speechpathology students to carry out the role of anAHA and provide speechpathology relatedprogramsor therapeutic interventions under theguidance and supervision of a speechpathologist. Thisdocumentprovides information to speech pathology studentswho are consideringworking as an allied health assistant (AHA)with a speech pathologist and the keydifferencebetween working as anAHA andbeing involved in a clinicalplacement aspartof your university studies. Formoredetailed informationplease refer to SPA’sdocument: ParametersofPractice: Guidelines fordelegation,collaborationand teamwork in speechpathologypractice (2007) andSPA’sPositionStatement: Working WithSupportWorkers (2014) SpeechPathologyAustralia studentmembers arewelcome to contactNationalofficewith any questions on 03 9642 4899/1300368835 or email office@speechpathologyaustralia.org. au.

Whatarealliedhealthassistants? Allied health assistants (AHAs) support thedeliveryof allied health services, under thedirect supervisionof an allied healthprofessional, such as a speechpathologist. SpeechPathologyAustralia states thatAHAsplay a valuable role indelivering therapy services in conjunction with aqualified speechpathologist,but they should notbe used as a replacement for the speechpathologist. Whatare thedutiesofanAHA? SpeechPathologyAustralia (SPA) haswritten aPosition Statement for speechpathologists called WorkingWith SupportWorkers (2014). Thisdocumentoutlines the scope ofpractice anddutiesof anAHA. ThisPosition Statement covers thework of allAHAs including speech pathology students. A large range of tasks and activities havebeen identified as suitable tobe undertakenbyAHAs and these are is outlined indetail inAppendix 3:Delegation ofTasks toSpeechPathologySupportPersonnel, inSpeech PathologyAustralia’sdocument: ParametersofPractice:Guidelines for Delegation,collaborationand teamwork in speechpathologypractice (2007) . It shouldbe noted that theAssociation asserts the following tasks areNOT suitable fordelegation toAHAs: • assessment • differentialdiagnosis • clinicalproblem solving • therapyplanning. In addition, anAHAmay not: • select clients for assessmentor intervention; • change any treatment; • independently alter aplanof care or treatmentgoals; • independentlydraft reports; • discharge clients from treatment. Wheremight IfindworkasanAHA? Youmight findwork in a speechpathologyormulti- disciplinarypractice, at a non government organisation, in thepublic sector such as schoolor hospitalor youmight

Disclaimer: To thebest of theSpeechPathology Association ofAustralia Limited’s (“the Association”) knowledge, this information is valid at the time ofpublication. TheAssociation makes nowarranty or representation in relation to the content or accuracy of the material in thispublication. TheAssociation expresslydisclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of the use of the informationprovided. The Association recommends you seek independent professional adviceprior tomaking anydecision involvingmattersoutlined in thispublication.

Working with an allied health assistant (AHA) to support clients, including NDIS participants

Disclaimer: To thebest of theSpeechPathology Association ofAustralia Limited’s (“theAssociation”) knowledge, this information is valid at the time of publication. TheAssociationmakes nowarrantyor representation in relation to the content or accuracy of thematerial in thispublication.TheAssociation expresslydisclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of the useof the information provided. TheAssociation recommends you seek independentprofessional adviceprior tomaking any decision involvingmatters outlined in thispublication.

SpeechPathologyAustralia recognises: • Allied health assistants (AHAs) support thedelivery of allied health services, under thedirect supervision of an allied healthprofessional and canprovide assistancewith thedelivery and administrationof speechpathology services. • AHAs should notbe utilised as a replacement for a speechpathologist. • TheNDIA is encouragingparticipants to consider usingAHAs todeliverdelegated tasks, includingdirect and capacitybuilding supports forpeople in their every-day environments (i.e., communicationpartners orprovidingmealtime supports). • InclusionofAHA supports in aparticipant’sNDISplan can increase efficiency and effectivenessof service provision, creatingbenefits forboth theparticipant and the speechpathologist across a rangeof areas/goals. • Delegation of speechpathology tasks toAHAs and otherprofessionalsmustbedonewithin the context of a clinicalgovernance framework. • Speechpathologistsmaybenefit from support and supervision themselves inworkingwithAHAs. Whatare thebenefitsofworkingwithan AHA? AHAs can: • provide amore intensive therapyprogram for clients; • model and reinforce effective strategies forparents/ carers to use in the home environment; • contribute to capacitybuilding interventionsby supportingparticipants and their carers in generalising new skills into natural settings such as in their home and or in the classroom; • undertake observational and other activities in the participant’s everyday environment, e.g. identifying potentialbarriersor facilitators to communication for the clientwithpeers, familymembers, and other communicationpartners; • release the speechpathologist toperformmore complex tasks,while they areworkingwith a participant.

Please find to follow responses toquestions SpeechPathologyAustralia (SPA)members frequently ask about supervising andworking with allied health assistants to support clients includingNDISparticipants. Formoredetailed informationplease refer toSPA’sdocument:

ParametersofPractice:Guidelines fordelegation,collaborationand teamwork in speechpathology practice (2007)

SPA’sPositionStatement:Working WithSupportWorkers (2014)

SPA’sFAQaboutAlliedHealth Assistants:Their role, trainingand duties

OriginalOctober 2019 Disclaimer: To thebestof theSpeechPathology AssociationofAustralia Limited’s (“the Association”) knowledge, this information is valid at the time ofpublication.TheAssociation makes nowarrantyor representation in relation to the content or accuracyof the material in thispublication.TheAssociation expresslydisclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of the use of the informationprovided.The Association recommends you seek independent professional adviceprior tomaking anydecision involvingmattersoutlined in thispublication.

December 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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