Speak Out October 2020 DIGITAL EDITION FINAL

Restraint of Trade and Conflict of Interest for more information. If you are employing or engaging staff it is your professional responsibility to inform them fully about the terms and conditions of your relationship with them and respect and comply with industrial and professional entitlements. The Professional Resources page on the SPA website has links to documents about contracts, awards, wages and employment conditions, engaging staff and the differences between an employee and contractor. Members can also access the services of WorkPlacePLUS for free initial advice about HR supports. When providing professional services, policies and procedures need to be communicated and shared with all staff and clients in a responsive and timely manner. SPA’s Private Practice Policy and Procedure Manual and associated templates includes a comprehensive list of frequently requested policies and procedures that can be adapted for your practice. This can be found on the SPA website at Private Practice Essentials. This document is currently being updated and will soon also include policies about complaints and grievances; performance management, harassment, bullying and discrimination, and code of conduct. For supports to manage secure storage of digital and other files and best practice regarding privacy and security of personal information see SPA’s FAQ about Health Records and SPA’s Private Practice Privacy Guide and templates. The Guide contains sections on the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and how they relate to private speech pathology practice, a step-by- step guide to developing a Privacy Policy, information on retention of personal information and information on how to protect the privacy of clients’ personal information when selling or closing a business. The Guide can also be found on the Private Practice Essentials page of the SPA website. National office staff are always happy to answer members’ questions and support you to ensure ethical practice and decision making about the way in which you manage your business go hand in hand. Contact: advisor@speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

Guide to report writing

Section 2.2 Accurate and timely information (Code of Ethics (2020)) and SPA’s updated Guide to Report Writing "We make sure that information we provide is clear, accurate and sufficient, and that it is provided in a timely manner. We communicate in a respectful and professional way. We provide information that is accessible and understood by clients, their families and significant others. This includes information relating to assessment, reports, and evidence- based practice and the implications of these." Alongside the launch of the updated Code of Ethics, Speech Pathology Australia has also released the updated Guide to Report Writing that is intended to apply across a range of sectors and speech pathology practice areas. The Guide contains general report writing information that is transferable across populations, practice areas and contexts. Members can access the Guide at www. speechpathologyaustralia.org.au > Resources for Speech Pathologists > Professional Resources The Association would like to thank Harmony Turnbull for her work in developing this Guide for members. Harmony outlines some of the key issues faced when developing this new guide in the Association’s recent podcast Discussions around the Guide to Report Writing

Nichola Harris Manager Professional Practice

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October 2020 | Speak Out