Program Information
Community of Practice (CoP for Professional Development and Support)
Let's Talk about Service Evaluation
Information About the Allied Health Program in Children's Centres
Welcome! It is with pleasure that we welcome staff and managers of the Allied Health in Children's Centres Program to this website. The International Centre for Allied Health Evidence (iCAHE) is honoured to host this site and to work collaboratively with the dedicated allied health staff in Children's Centres in SA. iCAHE is a centre within UniSA that provides researchers, clinicians, teachers, patients and associated organisations with a forum for undertaking and disseminating evidence-based research in allied health locally, nationally and internationally. SA Health has engaged the services of iCAHE to support the Allied Health Program. We are hoping to use this online facility as a strategic communication forum to allow all sites involved in the program to participate no matter where you are located geographically and do so at a time that is convenient to you.
SA Health, DECD and iCAHE have embarked on a journey to facilitate support for Allied Health staff in Children's Centre in their professional development and evaluation of their services. We see these two aspects as strategically linked in the support that the iCAHE provides. Specifically, the evaluation support has the primary objective of collaboratively refining the current evaluation framework that is in place for the Allied Health In Children's Centres Program, in order to implement an improved evaluation in subsequent evaluation cycles. We are aiming for the following outcomes:
Outcomes from the evaluation project include:
- To establish the use of consistent and practical outcome measures across all sites
- To refine the current staff, parent and service provider questionnaires
- To refine the current statistical reporting template
- To refine current case studies/good news stories
- To develop protocols for how to collect and report data via questionnaires, templates and case studies
- To develop a data collection sheet for use with the statistical template
- To develop a comprehensive report format for providing qualitative information and description of the site specific context of services
- To develop an evaluation kit for all of the above, including guidelines on the use of data collection tools and reporting templates
- To deliver a training session for allied health staff on the use of the revised tools and processes
- To establish processes and timeframes for implementation of the new evaluation framework for 2012
- Produce at least one peer-review publication and one conference presentation
- Facilitate a joint presentation with Allied Health staff on the development of the 2012 evaluation framework
For the Professional Development and support the focus will be on:
- Facilitating group discussion around practice issues related to working collaboratively in a Children's Centre context
- Assisting the group with drawing out learnings (e.g. on interagency, client and community work etc) from their shared practice issues
- Liaison with the allied health clinicians, their managers and the Allied Health in CC program manager
- Liaison with other allied health clinicians, researchers and academics from other relevant disciplines and from other Govt departments and universities as required
- Providing information to the group on literature and recent research related to allied health best practice in a transdisciplinary context
- Establishing and documenting best practice protocols for allied health services in Children's Centres
Kobie Boshoff - iCAHE representative and
Michelle Clark - Lead Program Officer, Early Childhood & Children's Centres, SA Health
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Community of Practice
(CoP for Professional Development and Support)
Best Practice Guideline
In 2009, a Best Practice Guideline document for Occupational Therapy service delivery in Children's Centres was prepared as a result of the Needs Analysis phase, of the project titled "OT in Children's Centres". This project was conducted at the Parks, Cowandilla and Ocean View Children's Centres. Literature reviews, evidence based reports, published research and professional opinion, as well as data gathered from the centres have formed the basis of this report. Within this report best practice principles relevant to the occupational therapy role are explored, processes as necessary for service provision are discussed and workforce recommendations are made. The report was presented to the Steering Group of the project in order to facilitate decision making in regards to the scope of the occupational therapy role.
This document is available by contacting Kobie at kobie.boshoff@unisa.edu.au
Parks Project Report
The Final Report of the Parks Project was presented to the Steering Group of the project titled "OT in Children's Centres" (broader title: Allied Health project: Parks, Cowandilla and Ocean View) in 2009 and reports on the project's implementation and outcomes. The project was conducted at the Parks, Cowandilla and Ocean View Children's Centres during the period August 2009 - July 2010. Contained in this report is the rationale for the project, the aims, objectives and strategies used as well as the outcomes of the project. Recommendations are made for the continuation and sustainability of the project initiatives. Companion documents to be read with this report are the documents entitled "Needs Analysis Report" (Boshoff and Clayton, 2009a) and the "Best Practice Guidelines for Occupational Therapy Service Delivery in Children's Centres" (Boshoff and Clayton, 2009b).
This document is available by contacting Kobie at kobie.boshoff@unisa.edu.au
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Let's Talk about Service Evaluation
This section of the website will be utilised by group members to develop and work on tasks related to the evaluation. Relevant working documents will be deposited here. please contact Kobie at kobie.boshoff@unisa.edu.au for any inquiries.
Reading Corner
You may find the list below of references for further readings valuable.
Anning, A., Cottrell, D, Frost, N., Green, J. & Robinson, M. (2006). Developing Multiprofessional Teamwork for Integrated Children's Services. Open University Press: UK
Atkinson, M., Wilcin, A., Scott, A.,Kinder, K. (2001) Multi-agency activity: an audit of activity. Local Government Association Research, Report 17. Slough: National Foundation for Education and Research.
Barnes, K.J. & Turner, K.D. (2001). Team collaborative practices between teachers and occupational therapists. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 83-89.
Bazyk, S., Michaud, P., Goodman, G., Papp, P., Hawkins, E., Welch, M.A. (2009). Integrating Occupational Therapy Services in a Kindergarten Curriculum: A Look at Outcomes. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 160 - 171.
Bose, P. & Hinojosa, J. (2008). Reported experiences from occupational therapists interacting with teachers in inclusive early childhood classrooms. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62, 289-297.
Boshoff, K. & Clayton, S. (report commissioned by Department of Health and Department of Education, 2009). Needs Analysis Report: OT in Children's Centres Project. University of South Australia.
Boshoff, K. & Clayton, S. (report commissioned by Department of Health and Department of Education, 2009). Best Practice Guidelines for Occupational Therapy Service Delivery in Children's Centres. University of South Australia.
Boshoff, K. & Clayton, S. (report commissioned by Department of Health and Department of Education, 2010). Final Project Report: OT in Children's Centres Project. University of South Australia.
Boshoff, K. (2005) Towards Facilitating Change in Service Delivery: an Illustrative Example. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Volume 52, p 149 - 159.
Boshoff,K, Alant, E. & May, E. (2005) Occupational Therapy Managers' Perceptions of Challenges faced in Early Intervention Service Delivery in South Australia. Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Boshoff, K. (2003) The Utilisation of Strategic Analysis and Planning by Occupational Therapy Services. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, Volume 50, Issue 4, p 252 - 258.
Broadhead, P., Meleady, C. & Delgada, M.A. (2008). Children, families and communities: Creating and sustaining integrated services. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Case-Smith, J. (2005). Occupational therapy for children. USA: Elsevier Mosby.
Case-Smith, J. (1997). Clinical interpretation of "The Efficacy of an Early Prevention Program Facilitated by Occupational Therapists: A Follow-up Study". The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51 (4), 252-255.
Colmer, K. (2008). Leading a learning organisation: Australian Early Years centres as learning networks. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 16 (1), 107-115.
Corter, C., Patel, S., Pelletier, J. & Bertrand, J. (2008). The Early Development Instrument as an evaluation and improvement tool for school-based, integrated services for young children and parents: the Toronto First Duty Project. Early Education and Development, 19 (5), 773-794.
Dule, K., Korner, H., Williams, J. & Carter, M. (1999). Delivering therapy services for students with high support needs: perceptions of roles, priorities and best practice. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 24, 243-263.
Dunhill, A., Elliot, B., & Shaw, A. (2009). Creating Integrated Services. Effective Communication and Engagement with Children and Young People, their Families and Carers. Learning Matters, UK.
Edwards, A. (2009). Relational agency in collaborations for well-being of children and young people. Journal of Children's Services, 4 (1), 33 – 43.
Friend, M. & Cook, L. (2000). Interactions: collaboration skills for school professionals, New York: Longman.
Glasby, J. & Peck, E. (2006). We have to stop meeting like this: The governance of inter-agency partnerships. Integrated Care Network.
Government of South Australia (2008) Children's Centres for Early Childhood Development and Parenting, Outcomes Framework: Children, families and communities at the centre. South Australia.
Hanft, B.E. & Place, P.A. (1996). The consulting therapist a guide for OTs and PTs in schools. Therapy Skill Builders.
Hillier, S. Civetta, L. & Pridham, L. (2010). A systematic review of collaborative models for health and education professionals working in school settings and implications for training. Education for Health, 23 (3), 1 -12.
Horwath, J. & Morrison, T. (2007). Collaboration, integration and change in children's services: critical issues and key ingredients. Child Abuse & Neglect, 31, 55-69.
Kennedy, S. & Stewart, H. (2010). Collaboration with teachers: a survey of South Australian occupational therapists' perceptions and experiences. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.
Kennedy, S. & Stewart, H. (2011). Collaboration between occupational therapists and teachers - definitions, implementation, and efficacy: a review of literature. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal.
Knackendoffel, E.A. (2005). Collaborative teaming in the secondary school. Focus on Exceptional Children, 37, 1-16.
Moore, T. (2008). Evaluation of Victorian children's centres: literature review. Melbourne: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, viewed 12 January 2011,. <http://www.education.vic.gov.au/ecsmanagement/integratedservices/research.htm>.
Moss, P. (2003). Rethinking Public Provision for Children. Children Issues, 7 (2), 24-30.
Nochajski, S.M. (2001). Collaboration between team members in inclusive educational settings. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 15, 101-112.
Nichols, S. & Jurvansuu, S. (2008). Partnership in Integrated Early Childhood Services: an analysis of policy framings in education and human services. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 9(2), 117 - 130 .
Odegard, A. (2006). Exploring perceptions of interprofessional collaboration in child mental health care. International Journal of Integrated Care, 6, 1-13.
Paul, S. & Peterson, C. (2001). Interprofessional collaboration: issues for practice and research. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 15, 1-12.
Prigg, A. (2001). Experiences and perceived roles of occupational therapists working with children with special needs during transition to school: a pilot study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 49, 100-111.
Robinson, M., Atkinson, M. & Downing, D. (2008). Supporting theory building in integrated services research. Slough: National Foundation for Educational Research.
Press, F., Sumsion, J. & Wong, S. (a c. 2010). Integrated Early Years Provision in Australia. Charles Sturt University.
Rodger, S. & Ziviani, J. (2006). Occupational therapy with children: understanding children's occupations and enabling participation. Oxford: Blackwell.
Sameroff, A.J. & Fiese, B. H. (2000). Transactional regulation: The developmental ecology of early intervention. In J.P. Shonkoff & S.J. Meisels (Eds.). Handbook of early childhood intervention (pp. 135-159). USA: Cambridge University Press.
SQW (2006). Research to inform the management and governance of children's centres: Final report to DFeS. London: SQW Limited, viewed 12 January 2011, <http://www.sqw.co.uk/publications/archive>.
Vincent, R., Stewart, H. & Harrison, J. (2008). South Australian school teachers' perceptions of occupational therapy reports. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 55, 163-171
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