Speak Out October 2020 DIGITAL EDITION FINAL

Ethics

Ask SPA Professional Practice

I have an AHA also working with some of my clients What are my ethical obligations?

Allied health assistants who provide or support speech pathology interventions must work under the direct supervision of a qualified speech pathologist. It is important that you manage this relationship appropriately. If you are the supervising speech pathologist, you are responsible for determining the needs of the client, the AHA’s skill level, which tasks can be delegated, and which are beyond the AHA’s personal scope of practice and competency. It is also important you develop clear standards/ protocols, provide adequate training to guide the AHA’s practice and set up regular supervision and a means of documenting the supervision of the AHA. The type and frequency of supervision will depend on individual client factors, clinical context, and the AHA’s level of skill. Depending on the needs of the AHA and the client, supervision may be provided onsite or remotely (e.g., through videoconference.) The frequency and type of supervision needs to be agreed

upon by both the supervising speech pathologist and the AHA, and if you are working with NDIS participants, this will need to be discussed with the participant and/or family and reflected in the service agreement. More information about working with AHAs can be found in the following documents: Allied health assistants: their role, training and duties when working with a speech pathologist Working with an allied health assistant to support clients, including NDIS participants Working With Support Workers (2014) Parameters of Practice: Guidelines for delegation, collaboration and teamwork in speech pathology practice (2007) Nichola Harris Manager Professional Practice

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October 2020 | Speak Out