SLSOs – PSA secures positive progress on draft Health Care Procedures Manual
On 11 September 2015, the PSA submitted feedback to the Department on the draft Health Care Procedures Manual, which was recently up for review. To read the PSA feedback please click on the links to the following files:
On 15 January 2016, the Department provided a response to the PSA’s feedback. This can be found HERE. The PSA is not satisfied that the concerns raised in our feedback have been appropriately addressed by the Department. Accordingly, the PSA notified a dispute on the issue on 3 February 2016. Please see a copy of the dispute notice HERE.
As a result, our first dispute meeting with the Department was held on 25 February 2016. We are pleased to report positive progress on the matter with the following action items being agreed to by the Department :
- PSA staff will be shown the training kit that is delivered by Nurse Educators for Health Care Procedures
- PSA feedback to the health care procedures will be reconsidered by the Department in greater detail and a further meeting will be held with the Department to discuss our concerns
- PSA staff have requested attendance as an observer at the next Health Care Procedure training day
- The Department will not release the manual until agreement is reached with the PSA.
PSA members will be updated as meetings progress.
In the meantime the PSA would like to remind members of the following:
- SLSOs should only perform health care procedures under the direct supervision of a teacher
- Invasive procedures (for example catheterisation and deep suctioning) are not within the SLSO role
- In relation to shallow suctioning and assisting with intermittent self-catheterisation special consideration applications are required (see below)
- Performance of healthcare procedures is voluntary. No SLSO should feel coerced or pressured into undertaking these duties
- SLSOs should only perform the health care procedures if you are appropriately trained
- SLSOs should only perform the health care procedures if you are remunerated in accordance with the Industrial Award.
Special Considerations Applications
The Special Considerations Panel includes representatives from the PSA, the Department, and the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association. Only the panel can approve a student’s Special Consideration Application. SLSOs who choose to volunteer are advised not to perform any procedures requiring special consideration without first sighting the student’s Health Management Plan and an approved Special Consideration Application.
