Allied Health Assistants (AHAs) are trained professionals (e.g., 3rd or 4th Occupational Therapy students), who work under the close supervision of a fully qualified Occupational Therapist (OT). AHAs are a cost-effective way to access Occupational Therapy interventions. They assist with service delivery and other therapeutic related activities like resource making etc. AHAs do not make decisions regarding care plans and therapeutic goals. Instead, they report back to their overseeing Occupational Therapist who guides them and is responsible for any changes to goals or care plans. Essentially, it is a collaborative process between families, clients, the OT and the AHA.
Here at OTHC we aim to provide a comprehensive service for all our clients. Our aim is to enable children to participate in everyday life. Building a child’s capacity for everyday tasks like self-care routines, writing, cutting, kicking or throwing a ball, organising school homework, responding appropriately to sensory inputs will enhance self-esteem, confidence and support emotional regulation skills.
Sometimes this requires home visits, school visits and/or community visits to allow children greater opportunities for practice in ‘real life’ settings. The OT may also need to modify the task, the environment and provide recommendations to educators to support occupational engagement. However, other times, children may require more on-going support in the community to enable greater engagement, skill development and participation.
AHAs frequently help complement Occupational Therapy in clinic interventions by providing community-based interventions. For example, if your child needs support with their morning routines or self-care tasks, the AHA can aide with skill development in situ. The AHA can support your child at the local playground to feel more confident in using equipment and develop their motor or social skills etc. The AHA can support your child to organise school homework by implementing Occupational Therapy strategies at home which is more likely to lead to skill generalisation as compared to in a clinic setting. AHA’s can also intensify services to support goal attainment both in and out of the clinic while your child continues receiving weekly Occupational Therapy. These are just a few examples of how AHA’s can work with your child.
At OTHC we aim to ensure that the AHA’s role remains within the scope of their practice and each child will first be screened by a qualified Occupational Therapist to ensure suitability. If your child is suitable, the Occupational Therapist will evaluate your child’s strengths and challenges and develop a care plan aligned with your child’s goals. The AHA will then be responsible for carrying out the plan while being well supported by the overseeing OT. This process is also a cost-effective way to intensify and stretch out services overtime.
If you feel your child may benefit from an AHA model, please don’t hesitate to call us on 9913 3823 or email us at hello@occupationaltherapy.com.au.
