Elements and Performance Criteria

Clients may include:
Infants
Children
Adolescents
Adults
Elderly
Visitors
Staff
Prospective clients to the service or services
Relatives/carers of client

Clients may be in contact with the organisation through relevant representatives, professionals or other advocates or agencies.

Others with whom interaction is required in regard to client services may include:
Other staff members
Team members
Service units or departments
Family members and friends of clients
Carers
Volunteers in a health services environment
Professional representatives or agents of the client such as medical specialists, social workers, therapists, interpreters, teachers and/or spiritual, community or other representative

Allied health services may include:
Physiotherapy
Psychology/Clinical Psychology
Podiatry
Occupational Therapy
Speech Pathology
Dietetics
Social Work
Audiology
Physical Education
Pharmacists
Prosthetists
Orthotists
Hydrotherapy services

Confidentiality policies may include:
Fees
Health fund entitlements
Welfare entitlements
Payment methods and records
Public environments
Legal and ethical requirements
Writing details ie medical and consent forms
Conversations on the telephone
Secure location for written records
Offering a private location for discussions
Information disclosed to an appropriate person consistent with individual's level of responsibility

Workplace settings may include:
Hospital (inpatient and outpatient)
Community Health Centres
Rehabilitation Service
Therapy Centres
Multi-purpose centre
Nursing home/hostels
Residential care
School
Child care centre/preschool
Allied health private practice
Client's home (community based/rural and remote services)
Hydrotherapy pools

Allied health equipment may include:
Physiotherapy equipment
Respiratory equipment
Tilt tables
Braces
Electrotherapy devices
Electrical equipment
Hydrotherapy
Manual handling
Exercise equipment
Positional equipment eg slings/splints
Wheelchairs/frames and walking sticks and crutches
Audio-visual equipment
Feeding equipment
Plastering equipment
Woodworking equipment
Sewing machines
Computers

Occupational therapy equipment may include:
Splinting equipment
Wheelchairs/frames and walking sticks/crutches
ADL equipment
Exercise equipment
Various activity equipment
Computer programmes
Audio-visual equipment
Positioning furnishing equipment
Computer/other technical equipment
Variety of activity equipment

Speech pathology equipment may include:
Artificial larynx
Augmented communication equipment
Paediatric feeding devices
Feeding equipment

Allied health professional instructions may be:
Written
Verbal
Diagrammatic

Assistance with therapy tasks may be:
Working directly with (in the presence of-may be directly with or in parallel to) the allied health professional and according to their instruction
Working without the allied health professional being present but according to instruction of the allied health professional
Maintaining reserve of appropriate assessment and client record forms

Relevant sources of information may be:
Clients
Client relatives/friends/carers
Allied health professionals
Community/support group
Nurses
Care plans
Discharge plans
Appropriate training programs

Information must be passed on to appropriate allied health professional as either:
Case notes
Verbal or written handover
Memo
Checklists
Other forms according to procedures for individual organisations

Recording of appointments may include but are not limited to:
Manual, ie. appointment book
Electronic ie computer based program

Critical aspects of assessment must include:
Works within roles and responsibilities of the relevant allied health service
Complies with relevant policies, protocols, guidelines and procedures of the organisation
Follows instructions effectively
Completes set instructions effectively and efficiently
Requests clarification/feedback appropriately
Working effectively as part of a team and/or working effectively without the AHP being present where appropriate.
Keeps legible and logical documentation and relays information
Uses correctly and safely assigned therapy equipment

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other general health services units of competency is encouraged

Essential knowledge must include:
Relevant organisational policies and procedures
Disease processes relevant to the client group/s
Patients/client care plans, goals and limitations of therapy
Roles, responsibilities and limitations of self and other allied health team members and nursing, medical and other personnel
Therapy tasks/programs associated with particular client population
Contra-indications for therapies
Community and government resources for client population
Allied health resources available for client population
Appropriate use of allied health equipment and resources
OHS policy and procedures
Basic therapy techniques (particular to relevant allied health profession)
Knowledge of differences between, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech pathology
Basic knowledge of human behaviour and social/interpersonal behaviour

Essential skills must include:
Ability to learn and understand common abbreviations and organisational and medical terms
Ability to communicate effectively with other team members and understand their various roles
Basic therapy techniques
Time management, personal organisational skills and establishing priorities
Ability to manage stress
Ability to work under direct and indirect supervision
Effective interpersonal "people" skills
First Aid skills
Activity analysis - breaking activities down into component parts
Using initiative
Physically strong enough to cope with the demands of the job, particularly manual handling
Ability to respond appropriately to difficult or challenging behaviour
Reading and writing skills-literacy competence required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation. The level of skill may range from the ability to understand symbols used in OHS signs, to reading workplace safety pamphlets or procedure manuals, to reading labels and documenting clinical information. Literacy support available in the workplace may range from having access to support or assistance from expert/mentor/supervisor, to having no communication supports available. Literacy may be required in English or a community language depending on the language used in pamphlets or workplace manuals.
Oral communication skills-language competence required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation. Assessors should look for skills in asking questions, providing clear information, listening to and understanding workplace instructions, and clarifying workplace instructions when necessary. Effective verbal and non verbal communication skills with a range of internal and external persons are essential. Organisation may require competence in English or a community language, depending on client group.
Numeracy skills may range from the ability to complete basic arithmetic calculations, recording stock levels and statistical information
Problem solving skills required include an ability to use available resources
Ability to deal with conflict
Ability to work with others and display empathy with patient and relatives

Resource implications:
Access to appropriate workplace with supervising therapist of relevant allied health profession where assessment can take place
Simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment with supervising therapist of relevant allied health profession
Relevant organisational policy, guidelines, procedures and protocols

Method of assessment:
Observation of work activities in client service by appropriate allied health professional
Observation of simulation and/or role play involving client service
Discussion of physical and/or behavioural contingency scenarios involving duty of care
Authenticated transcripts of relevant education/training courses
Authenticated reports of working with clients and maintaining a high standard of client service
Case studies and scenarios as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies in addressing the maintenance of high standards of client service

Consistency in performance:
It is recommended that assessment or information for assessment will be conducted or gathered over a period of time and cover the normal range of workplace situations

Context of assessment:
This unit will be most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions and by a supervising therapist of the relevant allied health profession