Welcome to the September edition of the Learning Library newsletter!

This month there’s another guest contribution, more content from me, and we’ll spotlight the best downloadable FREE resources currently available in the library.

New additions

From me you can access:

- Webinar recording – Ask me anything: NDIS, Advocacy and ART Tips – I’m joined by NDIS Disability advocate and lawyer Niti Prakash and we answer your questions about how to work with advocates, write better reports, and understand exactly what happens in an ART hearing.

- Download – Planning guide for justifying capacity building funding – If your autopilot approach of just asking for weekly or fortnightly therapy funding for your clients isn’t really working anymore and you need to strengthen your reasoning, this resource will help. Use the PROOF acronym to make sure you have a clear goal, you’ve considered research evidence, and you’re tracking outcomes, to help explain why you need the therapy hours you’ve asked for.

From my guest contributors you’ll find:

Risk management process for safety in the community

The wonderful Danielle Skelton and Janet McPherson from Bridge to Best will be running a webinar later this week on practical risk management for health professionals working in the community. As a generous sneak peek, they have shared their flowchart that outlines all the factors that need to be considered to ensure our safety when working in our client’s homes and community spaces. Download the flowchart for free from the Learning Library, then sign yourself up for the webinar if you need more details!

Focus topic: Top 10 downloads

There is a lot of content available in the Learning Library. If you don’t have time to watch any of the webinars yet, these free downloads may be a quick starting point for you. Here are my top 10 most popular downloads (in no particular order!):

- YOTT hospital initial assessment form – Download a PDF you can use to guide your questions, note-taking and documentation when completing an initial OT assessment within a hospital setting.

- ISBAR template – A template with prompts and completed examples that shows you how using the ISBAR framework can make your next clinical handover discussion with your supervisor or another professional clear and confident.

- CPD reflection template – Many OTs do a training session then chase the certificate, but did you know AHPRA doesn’t actually care about your certificate! The evidence you need to collect is your reflection on what you learned and how it will enhance your service provision to your clients. This free template gives you the prompts you need to get your AHPRA CPD evidence right!

- Choosing the RIGHT OT job for me workbook – If you’re looking for your first job or next job but aren’t really sure what will be the best fit, or how you can tell the good employers from the ones who are all talk, this resource will help! For added tips, watch the free webinar that goes with it where I talk you through my tips.

- Functional capacity assessments for people with ME/CFS – This guide will teach you the essential tips you need to know when working with people with these invisible illnesses; your autopilot approach to assessment won’t cut it and can actually cause harm! There are links to more resources and webinars too.

- Documentation examples – If you’re not sure how to clearly and efficiently document progress notes, or if you’re lost between using SOAP notes or not using SOAP notes, these examples will help!

- Executive summary example for long NDIS reports – If you write long NDIS reports like FCAs, SILs or SDAs, you’re going to need a summary at the start to capture the key details for your reader early! This download gives you a framework, two examples and extra tips. P.S. If you want to see a full FCA report template send me a DM – there’s one coming later this month!

- NDIS report planning tool – If you need to write any sort of NDIS report, the key to success is having thorough information gathering, clear reasoning and good formatting. To find out my 10-step process for NDIS report writing success, and see an example of how to plan out an AT application for a wheelchair, checking out this download is a must!

- Am I ready to host an allied health student clinical placement? – If you are keen to host a student, but you’re worried the logistics will make it impossible, don’t give up before reading this guide! There are tips to help you prepare even before you make an offer so your placement is efficient, high-quality and sustainable.

- Conference posters – Recently there’s been some call for abstracts in the allied health world! If you don’t want FOMO, make sure you put in your own abstract! A poster is a great, low pressure way to add something cool to your CV! This guide shows you the essential features to include in a poster to make the task a lot more achievable for everyone.

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Would you like to add your own resource to the Library one day?

All you need to do is fill in the EOI and tell me about your resource, and I’ll send you the T&Cs. The key point is you need to have a resource (video, webinar, download) that you would be happy for people to freely access via the Library, and in return you’ll get your own little marketing landing page and a plug in my socials and newsletters (including this one!). PLUS this cool badge to add to your website or socials.

Super keen but haven’t signed up to the Learning Library yet?

Do it today! All you need to do is add your name and email address via this link, then check your inbox or junk mail for the login details. If you’ve got an extra couple of minutes, you can even setup the free mobile app straight away.

I’m doing this because there are so many great OTs and other health professional out there with fantastic resources and education services, and the OT and allied health world just don’t know they exist.  Spend less time searching for answers and reinventing the wheel, and more time working with your clients!

If you found this newsletter helpful, there’s so much more you can get from Your OT Tutor! Here are four ways I can help you become a better OT who loves what you do with professional development that is simple, practical and worth it!

1.      Check out my on-demand courses

2.      Book in some one-on-one or group training

3.      Sign-up for one of my CPD memberships

4.      Send me a DM and we can chat about how I can help!

#OccupationalTherapy #NDIS #Assessment #YourOTTutor