Allied Health Assistants (AHA)
AHA support occupational therapy practice in the community to deliver occupational therapy.
The role of an AHA is set out by Occupational Therapy Australia, setting the framework for all AHA.
“Allied health assistants have been a key part of the occupational therapy workforce, working under the direct supervision of a registered occupational therapist. Allied health assistants are defined as: A person employed under the supervision of an allied health professional who is required to assist with therapeutic and program related activities. Supervision may be direct, indirect or remote and must occur within organisational requirements.
The term AHA has been used across the allied health professions to describe assistants who work under the delegation and supervision of an allied health professional, taking on less-complex treatment or care tasks, and performing administrative or other tasks that would otherwise reduce the time available for more complex direct care by more highly trained practitioners.AHAs may work within occupational therapy, other allied health disciplines, or at a multidisciplinary level to support and assist the allied health practitioner. AHAs are not autonomous practitioners and must work under the overarching auspice and clinical oversight of the allied health practitioner." (Occupational Therapy Australia, 2015).
There are a number of barriers in Australia to access regular, consistent health services. Not limited to an ageing population, increased demand for occupational therapy, chronic diseases and geographical challenges in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.
The need for increased occupational therapy places significant demand for occupational therapy services. AHA's assist to meet and support increased demands to allow occupational therapists to focus on complex service delivery.
AHA's are not qualified to diagnose conditions or prescribe treatment or design intervention and therapy. They work under the direction of Allied Health Professional staff such as doctors, social workers, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and nurses. AHA's participate in regular supervision and professional development using reflective practices.
Occupational Therapy AHA
Assists with the provision of client-based services in home, clinic, hospital, or day program settings.
They work under direction of an Occupational Therapist to assist people develop skills in domains
self-care,
activities of daily living,
play and social skills.
What is the difference between an Allied Health Assistant and a Support Worker?
The role of the AHA, is guided by the direction of the occupational therapist. The AHA assists to build life skills.
AHA’s can coach and educate support workers who work with people outside of Occupational therapy to continue to build skills day to day.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF AN AHA AT COREE OT?
Coree Occupational Therapy uses a two-person home visit policy. An AHA will attend all appointments in the community with the Occupational Therapist. During all initial assessments the AHA will support the Occupational therapist with note taking, home modification photographs, and assistive technology trials.
AHA AND ONGOING THERAPY
During the initial assessment the Occupational therapist will discuss and identity a plan and goals with you to work towards.
The plan for ongoing therapy will be developed by the OT and delivered by the AHA. Typically all ongoing therapy is offered in agreed blocks of time, e.g. weekly or fortnightly for 4 or 6 week blocks.
The AHA and OT engage in regular discussions post session. This allows for adjustment to the intervention, therapy design and regular evaluation.
Feedback and adjustments to the therapy is provided regularly.
Following the end of the block of therapy, an Occupational therapy review will be completed for evaluation and goal review. This will be used to design possible future therapy.