Speech Pathology Profession

Hot topic: Will all Australian SLP practices have to register with the NDIS Commission?

6 August 2024 By David Kinnane Leave a Comment

Breaking news:

On 2 August 2024, the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce Advice was released, with their views on mandatory registration.

SLP views were heard:

“The Taskforce acknowledges there are a number of allied health practitioners who are not required to register with AHPRA, including…speech pathologists. Some of these practitioners operate in a self-regulated environment (e.g. for National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP)). These frameworks may be accompanied by a certification process and Code of Ethics. We have heard that members of these bodies would prefer to not be required to operate under duplicate accreditation and registration requirements, through mandatory registration with the NDIS Commission.”

Existing CPSP self-regulation arrangements may count as NDIS registration:

“The Taskforce recommends consideration be given to the appropriateness of extending a recognition of those registration schemes to self-regulating allied health professionals. Any such assessment would need to consider the requirements of the self-regulated environment and other relevant matters. This recommendation is in relation to registration only and does not apply to worker screening.” (Our emphasis.)

Why it matters:

SLPs are well-regulated in Australia with certification processes, professional standards that mirror AHPRA standards, and a robust Code of Ethics with complaint processes.

Mandatory NDIS registration would increase compliance costs and red tape, duplicate existing rules, and discourage some SLPs from offering NDIS-funded services, reducing participant choice and control.

Go deeper:

Read the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce Advice.

Watch this space:

We now await the Government’s response to the Taskforce advice.

This article also appears in a recent issue of Banter Booster, our weekly round up of the best speech pathology ideas and practice tips for busy speech pathologists, speech pathology students and others.

10 practical productivity tips for speech pathologists in private practice – “Be productive, not busy”

3 February 2023 By David Kinnane Leave a Comment

Respect your own time so others will, too.

1. Use ‘timeboxing’/time-blocking.

Schedule each part of your day. Be specific about each activity in each time block, including breaks (e.g. “Session planning”; “Emails”; “Call X”; “Coffee break” etc.).

Stick to your plan for both work AND rest.

2. Do one thing at a time. (Multi-tasking is a myth.)

The more you task-switch, the more time you lose to re-orient yourself. Resist the urge to check your email constantly!

3. Batch similar tasks together.

Minimise multi-tasking.

4. Build in ‘buffer’ time for unexpected things.

Build in extra time for urgent or tricky things within or between each time slot.

5. Say ‘no’ more often (even if it feels awkward at first).

Tim Harford: Every time we say “yes” to a request, we are also saying “no” to anything else we might accomplish with the time.

6. Remove distractions.

Tell co-workers when you cannot be disturbed. Share your timetable with the team. They’ll see when you’re busy. Keep your phone out of easy reach.

7. Examine barriers to productivity.

We all get distracted. Note down distractions and brainstorm how to minimise them.

8. Try not to claw back your schedule back if you go off-track.

Restart at the next planned time block.

9. Build healthy work habits. Start small.

Don’t rely on motivation (too variable). Work on building one healthy habit at a time. Once automatic, begin another.

Small, consistent changes set you on a trajectory to achieve larger goals.

10. Take (scheduled) breaks. Recovery is essential.

Use breaks to recover and reset. If you do not rest enough, your body will force you to rest through illness or burnout.

5 practical ways for SLPs to deal with uncertainty in private practice

10 November 2022 By David Kinnane Leave a Comment

Things can feel out of control. Rising inflation and interest rates. Staff shortages. Long waiting lists. Reporting deadlines. Work-life-family pressures. Life in private practice is messy!

We’re wired to fear the unknown; and many SLPs love order and control. But uncertainty and possibility are two sides of the same coin.

Most things that matter – relationships, life-changing experiences, achievements – come to us after long periods of uncertainty.

We can learn to manage uncertainty better:

Reframe: We’re all playing James Carse’s “infinite game” – not to ‘win’ or ‘lose’, but to do something meaningful. We are on an adventure to help people, and we can change the rules if needed.
Balance: Some things are under our control, including our routines and habits. Fixed morning and night routines, work systems, mediation and fitness habits, and environment tweaks to reduce the number of pointless choices we make each day can help provide balance.
Act! Actions change your mood. Many successes come from a series of small, consistent steps. Feel the fear and get going!
Prime yourself with regular, small risks: Take small, calculated risks with limited downsides, e.g. by learning something new out of your comfort zone. Not that long ago, I made my first Instagram Reel. I felt foolish and incompetent, but the new trick made this old dog feel braver about dealing with change!
Recast: Failing hurts. Unfair things happen. Chaos can inflict tunnel vision. Widen your perspective with different ‘lenses’:
- learning (What can I learn from this?);
- gratitude (What do I still have?);
- timing (This is temporary, I can try again!); and
- challenge (heroes overcome obstacles). Spend more time with people you respect and love. Doing things you care about. Stay true to your values and mission.

Key source: Furr, N. & Harmon Furr, S. (2022). How to Overcome Your Fear of the Unknown. Harvard Business Review, July-August, 135-139.

SLP leaders should tell their employees they appreciate them more often!

16 September 2022 By David Kinnane Leave a Comment

In a recent study, almost 30% of employees reported that they had not received any recognition over the last year. Atrocious!

Leaders who tell their employees that they appreciate them are perceived as being better at collaboration and teamwork, accepting feedback, building relationships, and motivating staff.

To improve morale, productivity, performance, client satisfaction, and employee retention, leading Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) – practice owners, managers, and supervisors – should recognise their employees’ contributions properly.

SLP leaders can improve employee recognition in four basic ways:

Content: be specific with praise, and recognise inputs – things like hard work, new ideas, and perseverance – not just outcomes (that are not always within an employee’s control).
Delivery: the line manager/supervisor should deliver recognition regularly, and as soon as practicable after the behaviour or achievement is observed.
Systems: implement simple, automatic cues to reflect on who went above and beyond; then take a few minutes to tell the employee you recognise it. (Don’t wait until you’re not busy.)
Personalisation: some employees love fanfare and acclaim. But about ⅓ of employees loathe public recognition. Notes/cards and sincere thank yous, delivered privately, can work just as well for talented introverts!

Source: Zenger, J. & Folkman, J. (2022). Do You Tell Your Employees You Appreciate Them? HBR Online, September.

For more on supervision, check out our book “How to supervise speech pathologists properly in private practice“.

Difficult professional conversations: tips to help control emotions

23 August 2022 By David Kinnane Leave a Comment

Many Speech Language Pathologists in private practice are people pleasers, overworked and under-resourced.

Disagreements about priorities, caseloads, workloads and feedback are inevitable. They can feel threatening and stressful.

When threatened, many of us switch to “fight or flight” mode, making it hard to think rationally and professionally.

We can implement strategies to interrupt this physical response to keep our cool during difficult conversations:

Breathe: Focus on the sensation of air coming in and out of your lungs, or your nostrils. Breath in slowly through your nose for a count of 4 and out for a count of 8 through slightly pursed lips, at least three times.
Anchor: Notice the feeling of your feet on the ground.
Move: If possible, get up and walk around. If this is not possible, do small physical acts like crossing two fingers or slowly touching each finger with your thumb.
Use a mantra: Repeat a phrase to yourself to remind yourself to stay calm, e.g. “Go to neutral”.
Label: Name your emotions and examine them, recognising you are not your thoughts. Put space between your (temporary) emotion and your identity.
Take a break: excuse yourself for a moment to get some water, coffee, or to go to the bathroom. (This can also help give your conversation partner a chance to cool off and reset.)

Source: Gallo, A. (2017). How to Control Your Emotions During a Difficult Conversation. Harvard Business Review, Digital Edition.

For more on supervision of speech pathologists, check out our book “How to supervise speech pathologists properly in private practice“.

This article also appears in a recent issue of Banter Booster, our weekly round up of the best speech pathology ideas and practice tips for busy speech pathologists and speech pathology students.