AHA Implementation Program – Stage 3 working group

Position Statement: Alignment of RTO AHA training with workplace core competency expectations

Position Statement

Alignment of Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Allied Health Assistant (AHA) training with workplace core competency expectations

Purpose

To make a recommendation to RTOs regarding the training units that best align with the AHA workplace core competency requirements. This is intended to ensure thatCertificate IV Allied Health Assistance (HLT43015) graduates’ skills meet industry requirements, placing them as highly employable.

Background

As part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) health workforce and reform implementation agenda (2012-2016), atargeted initiative, the Allied Health Assistant (AHA) Implementation Programaimed to assist health and community services to strategically position themselves to build their workforce capacity in a sustainable way. The AHA Implementation Program was underpinned by the Supervision and Delegation Framework[i] for Allied Health Assistantsand was undertaken in three stages:

Victoria’s Allied Health Assistant Implementation Program 2012-15 / Number of health services / Number of staff involved
Stage one: / Rural and Regional Health Services / 71 / 1097
Stage two: / Metropolitan Health Services - Inpatient / 12 / 1956
Stage three: / Community Health and Ambulatory Services / 29 / 1304
Total / 112 / 4,357

The program involved Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) and AHAs ina series of focus groupsto identify current and potential AHA roles and tasks. Tasks were then categorised into agreedpractice categories, and formed the basis of data collection forms. AHPs thenquantified the amount of time spent completing AHA delegable tasks during a standard working week.Data was analysed and used to develop strategic plans, including scope for additional AHA roles.

Overview

Following completion of the AHA Implementation Program – Stage 3, a working group was established to facilitateimplementation of common strategic goals and recommendations made during the project, and to enable cross agency collaboration. The working group consisted of representatives from a number of health organisations within metropolitan Melbourne and was supported by DHHS representation.

A key priority for the working group was the development of AHA core competencies which underpin a majority of clinicalroles performed by AHAs in the workplace. These core competences areapplicable toAHAs in all work settings with the aim of transferability across workplaces. The competency areas were developedusing a combination of recent literature, data from the program and consultation with staff and managers at participating organisations. Four competencies have been developed which assess the skills and knowledge in the core areas of work undertaken by Allied Health Assistants (AHA). Each competency is accompanied by a learning package. The four competencies are:

Individual therapy: describes the skills and knowledge required by AHAs to prepare, conduct and document individual therapy sessions

Group therapy: describes the skills and knowledge required by AHAs to prepare, conduct and document group therapy sessions

Equipment and Environment: describes the skills and knowledge required by AHAs to provide, maintain and educate patients in the use of equipment

Communication of Patient Information: describes the skills and knowledge required for an AHA to effectively communicate patient treatment observations with the treating AHP

These competenciesand learning packages are available for wider organisational use and can be adapted according to specific workplace requirements.

To determinewhether the mandatory competencies in the AHA Certificate training were in line with thecore competencies produced in this stage, the working group communicated with representatives from Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) which offer training in Certificates in Allied Health Assistance. Feedback was provided by the Chair of AHA Network Victoria about the new AHA training curriculum and the units that teach the skills required to meet these core competencies.

Feedback from RTOsregarding HLT43015 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance:

The following two core units cover some general aspects of communication and clinical reporting. These form part of the requirements within three of the four core competency areas:

  • CHCCOM005Communicate and work in health or community services
  • HLTAAP001Recognise healthy body system

The following three elective units,when delivered in combination, teach the additional requirements of the four core competency areas:

  • HLTAHA001Assist with an allied health program
  • HLTAHA003 Deliver and monitor a client-specific physiotherapy program
  • HLTAHA011Conduct group sessions for individual client outcomes

Recommendation
In order to ensure that AHAs who have completed the HLT43015 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance have knowledge and skills in the four core competency areas required in the workplace, it is recommended that RTOs deliver the following three elective units in combination, in addition to existing core subjects:
  • HLTAHA001Assist with an allied health program
  • HLTAHA003 Deliver and monitor a client-specific physiotherapy program
  • HLTAHA011 Conduct group sessions for individual client outcomes

Members of the AHA Implementation Program – Stage 3 working group

Sally Butzkueven (Chair)Western Health

Casie BarretteSt. Vincent’s Hospital

Leanne de VosManningham Community Health Service, Link Community and Health, and

Carrington Health

Karen DundulesNorth East Primary Care Partnership: Austin Health, Banyule Community Health Service Darebin Community Health Service, and healthAbility

Liz GavinISIS Primary Care

Kellie GuthridgeAlfred Health

Sally Russell North East Primary Care Partnership: Austin Health, Banyule Community Health Service Darebin Community Health Service, and healthAbility

Desiree TerrillDepartment of Health and Human Services

AHA Implementation Program – Stage 3 working groupJanuary 2016

[i]Departmentof Health, Victoria, 2012,Supervisionand delegationframeworkfor alliedhealth assistants, availableat: