HLTAHA009
Assist in the rehabilitation of clients


Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to receive and respond to rehabilitation programs developed by allied health professionals.

This unit applies to allied health assistants and should be performed under the direction and supervision (direct, indirect or remote) of an allied health professional.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Plan to deliver a rehabilitation program

1.1 Obtain information about the rehabilitation program from an allied health professional and rehabilitation plan

1.2 Consult allied professional about the rehabilitation plan requirements and desired client outcomes

1.3 Identify program requirements outside scope of role and responsibilities as defined by the organisation and discuss with allied health professional

1.4 Identify and confirm impact of therapeutic program’s contribution to the overall rehabilitation outcome for the client

1.5 Obtain information about medical and psychosocial conditions that may impact on rehabilitation outcomes for client

1.6 Determine client availability according to organisation protocols

1.7 Identify and plan for any risk and safety issues that may impact on the client’s ability to participate in program

1.8 Prepare suitable equipment and environment for rehabilitation program

2. Assist with the development of a rehabilitation program

2.1 Assist allied health professional to work with client to identify current skills and abilities and how these can be built upon to manage their lives and environment more effectively

2.2 Assist allied health professional to work with client to develop their goals and priorities in terms of specific skills required to manage their lives in the short and medium term

2.3 Identify skills that need to be developed that are outside scope of role and responsibilities as defined by the organisation and refer to the allied health professional

2.4 Support the client to identify methods that will build upon their strengths when developing, regaining or retaining skills and abilities

2.5 Follow specific directions from the allied health professional for the fabrication and adaptation of therapeutic aids and equipment

2.6 Maintain and update resources for therapy and recreational programs

2.7 Work with professional and client to determine methods of evaluating the effectiveness of activities and methods

3. Assist with the delivery of a rehabilitation plan

3.1 Gather the equipment and materials to deliver the rehabilitation program, in line with client needs, specifications of the allied health professional and legislative and organisation guidelines

3.2 Check safety and efficiency of any equipment and material and seek advice where safety issues arise

3.3 Support client to carry out rehabilitation activities in ways that promote safety, involvement and confidence, and adhere to the cultural and spiritual beliefs and preference of the client

3.4 Provide constructive and timely feedback to client about involvement in rehabilitation activities

3.5 Recognise when client becomes distressed, in pain or communicates their desire to slow down, change activity or stop and follow stepping down procedures outlined in treatment plan or organisational guidelines and report to the treating physiotherapist

4. Assist with the evaluation of a rehabilitation plan

4.1 Assist the allied health professional to work with client to review progress

4.2 Monitor use of adaptive equipment as directed by the therapist

5. Comply with supervisory requirements

5.1 Identify and note any difficulties the client experiences completing the therapy programs and interventions and report to allied health professional in a timely manner

5.2 Identify and manage client adherence issues, including subjective and objective reporting of client response to the program, and report to the allied health professional in a timely manner

5.3 Report any client misunderstanding or confusion to the allied health professional in a timely manner

5.4 Seek assistance when client presents with needs or signs outside limits of own authority, skills and/or knowledge

5.5 Report client difficulties to the supervising allied health professional for advice before continuing the program

5.6 Participate in supervision processes with the treating allied health professional in accordance with organisation protocol

6. Clean and store equipment and materials

6.1 Clean equipment and materials according to manufacturers requirements

6.2 Store equipment and materials according to manufacturers requirements and organisation protocols

6.3 Report equipment faults to appropriate person

7. Document client information

7.1 Use accepted protocols to document information relating to the rehabilitation program in line with organisation requirements

7.2 Provide regular feedback to the client’s care team

7.3 Use appropriate terminology to document symptomatic expression of identified problems related to the rehabilitation program

Evidence of Performance

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

worked collaboratively with 3 clients, 1 in a simulated environment and 2 in the workplace, in the pursuit of rehabilitation outcomes in line with established rehabilitation principles and practices

performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 120 hours of work


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

the principles and practices of rehabilitation

the impact of illness on the client’s functional performance

where to access resources, aids and information for rehabilitation programs

strategies to support, motivate and encourage clients in a rehabilitation program

concepts and procedures for stepping down treatment or intervention when client becomes distressed, in pain or wishes to stop

organisation policy and procedures in relation to:

infection control as it relates to the allied health assistant’s role in assisting with client rehabilitation

record keeping in relation to rehabilitation programs

quality assurance, best practice and accreditation standards

other specific organisation policies or procedures, including supervisory and reporting protocols

legal and ethical considerations relevant to allied health:

codes of practice for work in occupational therapy or other relevant allied health areas

privacy, confidentiality and disclosure

duty of care

work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations including when and how to provide feedback about client

work health and safety (WHS):

manual handling including identification and control of manual task risk factors


Assessment Conditions

All aspects of the performance evidence must have been demonstrated using simulation prior to being demonstrated in a therapeutic workplace under the direction and supervision (direct, indirect, remote) as determined by the allied health professional.

The following conditions must be met for this unit:

use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including individualised plans and any relevant equipment outlined in the plan

modelling of industry operating conditions and contingencies, including provision of services to real people

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.


Foundation Skills

The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (such as language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.