Key messages
- Collecting data about your allied health assistant (AHA) workforce will help to ensure the project meets its objectives.
- Collect both quantitative and qualitative data.
Collecting the whole set of data will ensure you successfully achieve the aims of the Victorian Assistant Workforce Model (VAWM).
You need to collect quantitative data from both the baseline workforce staffing profile and the quantification survey in order to accurately measure the need for allied health assistants (AHAs) and allied health professionals (AHPs).
Workforce survey
Data collected:
- AHP/AHA job satisfaction
- AHP confidence in AHA performance and AHP supervision
- AHA professional development opportunities
- Potential tasks for delegation to an AHA
Objective of data collection:
- To measure workforce satisfaction and AHP confidence in delegation. This will provide a baseline to measure against, as well as identify priority development areas, such as clinical governance and supervision training, to allow an effective increase in AHA scope of practice.
Data type:
- Qualitative
- Quantitative
Focus groups
Data collected:
- Enablers, barriers, limitations and misconceptions for AHA uptake
- Tasks that could be completed by AHAs
Objective of data collection:
- To identify AHA tasks that are appropriate to the programs, services or disciplines in the project scope
- To identify potential barriers to achieving the VAWM aims. This will enable careful and deliberate use of change management strategies throughout the process
Data type:
- Qualitative
Baseline workforce staffing profile
Data collected:
- Point in time workforce staffing profiles, including FTE and physical numbers. This includes AHA and AHP workforce compositions
Objective of data collection:
- To determine the magnitude of need for AHAs
- To compare staffing structures pre and post implementation of AHA workforce strategic plans
Data type:
- Quantitative
Quantification survey
Data collected:
- Time spent by AHPs on tasks that could be delegated to an AHA
Objective of data collection:
- To determine the magnitude of need for AHAs
- To identify priority areas across the organisation for an adjusted or new AHA workforce according
Data type:
- Quantitative
Data collection tool
You can use the VAWM data collection tool template for data entry and analysis related to the VAWM.
Download the template from the downloads section on this page.
The database stores data from the baseline workforce staffing profile and quantification survey, and you can use it to generate the reports described in Element 4.
Hints
- Reassure staff participation is confidential.
- Engaging executives in the process of collecting baseline workforce staffing profile data will make the job easier, and also help to ensure that information is communicated to managers.
Reviewed 05 October 2015