The Assistant Practitioners Conference

1
The Assistant Practitioners Conference

• 12th November 2008

2
RCSLT SLT Assistant Practitioners Conference

• Policy Paper on Education and Training for
• SLT Assistant Practitioners
• Paula Saint SLTA
• Michèle Kelly SLT

3
(No Transcript)
4

• RCSLT wished to develop a Policy paper on
  Education and Training for SLT Assistant
  Practitioners
• RCSLT invited interest from members to join a
  Working Group and consider standards of
  CPD/training.
• Working group formed with approx. 9 members from
  around the UK. First met in April 08.

5

• Aims of the group were discussed at the first
  meeting. Lively debate, with people coming with
  perhaps different agendas.
• All staff were agreed that CPD/training was the
  focus of the meeting, but there was a hitch

6
Band 5!

• Found ourselves going off into a siding
• Transition to band 5 is of great concern to some
• Agreed this remains an issue for local negotiation

7
Back on track.

• Looking at CPD/training standards and
  competencies.
• Used the OT/Physio document to support a
  framework
• Agreed to develop a similar document/pack for SLT
  Assistants outlining CPD/training opportunities
  and signposting possible routes

8
Where to find the information?

• Group divided tasks to search for relevant
  information and used
• Skills for Health,
• National Childrens Workforce,
• RCSLT Competencies and Standards,
• OT and Physio National Framework for Support
  Worker Education and Development

9
Policy Paper on Education and Training for SLT
Assistants

• 4 Main objectives
• Set out RCSLT position on education and training
• Support Assistants with their Continuing
  Professional Development (CPD)
• Set up Quality Assurance process to accredit
  training
• Consolidate existing documentation re-examine
  in light of external drivers

10
TRAINING FOR ASSISTANTS
11

• At present RCSLT does not quality assure the
  following qualifications
• There are standards developed for working with
  Assistants
• RCSLT does not endorse 1 particular route

12
National Occupational StandardsNOS

• These are statements of work based competence
• They can be used in different ways
• By Individuals
• By Employers
• By Educational Institutions

13
National Vocational QualificationsScottish
Vocational Qualifications

• In June 2005 Skills for Health revised a set of
  awards
• You need to be assessed by a trained assessor
  against a specified number of units
• Scottish Vocational Qualifications are available
  to all can be completed as a distance learner

14
Skills for Health Competencies

• These are competencies to describe what
  individuals need to do, need to know skills
  needed to carry out activities
• Competencies can be used to meet the demands of
  the NHS Knowledge Skills Framework (KSF)

15
Foundation Degrees

• Degree level qualification designed with
  employers
• They combine academic study with workplace
  learning

16
BTEC

• These are vocational qualifications
• There are 3 sizes all at National Qualifications
  Framework level

17

18
(No Transcript)
19
Skills for Health Competencies Framework

• It is a tool to support career planning
• Using online tools you can plan your career route
  by answering specific questions
• Using the competence based role description you
  can undertake self-assessment to identify how
  well your skills Knowledge meet requirement of
  current job any potential job

20
Continuing Professional Development

• CPD

21
Continuing Professional Development

• CPD is about maintaining competence by continuing
  to learn develop knowledge Skills
• Employers may have CPD requirements you need to
  follow
• RCSLT has range of resources relating to CPD on
  their web pages

22
Policy Statement

• The group endeavoured to map learning
  opportunities available when considering CPD
• It includes mandatory, induction training,
  In-service education, accredited courses routes
  which may lead to entry to pre-registration SLT
  courses

23
CPD Principles

• Individuals are responsible for managing
  undertaking their CPD
• The Learning process is continuous its a
  systematic cycle of analysis, action review
• The process should be planned based on
  identifiable outcomes of learning

24
RCSLT Position

• CPD is not only about attending conferences
  courses
• RCSLT recommends you undertake a range of CPD
  from at least 3 categories
• RCSLT recommends Assistants in full time
  employment undertake 18-24 hrs per year

25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)
27

• Whenever CPD is undertaken a reflective account
  should be written
• Demonstrating how learning will benefit
• The service/employer
• The service users

28
Quality Assurance
29
QA

• RCSLT clearly want robust standards for training
  for Assistants.
• Questions to ask
• Does the learning opportunity deliver the
  intended learning outcomes?
• Does the institution have the knowledge/expertise
  to deliver?
• What evidence do providers have to support they
  are effective in their aims?

30
QA continued

• Curriculum Map for SLT Assistants Qualifications
  in document
• Support for Education providers to add value to
  existing QA procedures
• Consideration of Accredited Prior Learning
• Fit for Purpose, Fit for Practice

31
Corporate membership of RCSLT

• Pre-registration SLT qualifications certified by
  RCSLT
• RCSLT support will act as a kite mark of quality
• Supports credibility for the course
• Course participants can access info and resources
  via RCSLT

32
(No Transcript)
33
Consultation Process

• Draft Assistant Practitioner Policy document to
  be circulated across the land!
• Consultation in November 2008
• January 2009, responses to be collated and
  amendments to Policy made
• Final Policy statement for assistant
  Practitioners to be presented to PDSB for
  approval and sign off.

34
We need you!

• The Assistants document needs staff to respond
  and give feedback
• Consultation period is on now! Month of November
• Spread the word!
• Results collated in January 08

35
Summary

• We have told you how the Working group was
  formed, the journey we travelled and the outcome
  Policy Paper.
• We have explained about the different sections
  and a little of what is involved
• We have asked opinions and let you know about the
  consultation process happening now

36
(No Transcript)
37
(No Transcript)
38
The Assistant Practitioners Conference

• 12th November 2008