How we work
We take a transdisciplinary approach to service delivery. This ensures the best outcomes for the individuals and families we work with.
What does ‘transdisciplinary' mean?
A transdisciplinary approach encourages each member of a therapy team to contribute knowledge and skills. It supports collaboration with other therapists to determine the most beneficial therapy strategies.
In a transdisciplinary team the typical boundaries of each discipline (e.g. physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy) are removed and team members share their skills and expertise. This approach ensures that all team members work together to reinforce therapy strategies and monitor goals.
Your key worker
We use a key worker model to ensure the people we work with have one main contact, but access to a network of therapists with diverse skillsets.
When your start services with Therapy Focus you will be appointed a key worker. Your key worker is one of the therapists in your therapy team and is responsible for coordinating service delivery. If you are only accessing services from one therapist, then that therapist is your key worker.
Your key worker will get to know you, and the people who are important to you. They will keep in regular contact with you to make sure your needs are being met and you’re on track to achieving your goals. They also ensure that everyone, including your therapy team, other health professionals and service providers, are on the same page regarding your therapy services and your goals.
Your key worker will:
- Help develop your therapy plan with you
- Give you, your family and/or carers information and advice
- Help you and the people around you work toward your goals
- Help you work through challenges or issues you’re facing
- Visit the places where you need support
- Attend meetings with you
- Invite other therapists to meetings when needed
The people in your life can contact your key worker if they have questions. This includes:
- Family members
- School staff
- Doctors and medical professionals
- Local Coordinators
- Funding bodies
- Other service providers
Our Care Model
Independence
We work to ensure you achieve as much independence as possible.
Person-centred Practice
We work with you to find out what you want to achieve and what is important to you.
Participation
We work to ensure you can participate in the activities you enjoy.
Strengths-based Practice
We work with you and the people in your support network to build on your strengths.
Learning Everywhere
We work to ensure therapy and learning happens in everyday life.
Team Work
We work together with the people in your support network to help you achieve your goals.
Evidence-based Practice
We use tried and tested ways of providing therapy and supports.
The Service Cycle
These are the steps we take in service delivery, from your initial welcome meeting to regular progress reviews.
Service cycle steps explained
Your therapy team will meet with you and the people who are important to you to discuss what you want in life. We will explore your priority areas, goals and dreams.
In order to develop your therapy plan, your therapy team may conduct assessments to find out what you can do and what you need help with. They do this by:
- Asking you questions
- Talking to the people who help you
- Watching you complete activities at home, school, work, or in the community
- Asking you to demonstrate activities
Once your therapy plan is complete, your therapy team will begin delivering therapy. This can include:
- Helping the people around you make things easier for you
- Giving you activities to help you learn something new
- Showing you how to do something
- Finding you equipment that can help you
You will need time to practice new skills by yourself, as well as with your therapy team and the people around you. This is when you can tell us what is working well and what isn’t working so well.
When you feel you’ve had enough time to practice we will meet with you to find out if you’ve reached your goals. If you have new goals then we can continue to work with you. If you have achieved all your goals, then you may choose to say goodbye.
If you are using Government funding to access our services (e.g. NDIS), you may need to attend meetings or complete forms to access more funding. This ensures that we can keep providing therapy. Your therapy team can help you access funding and give you information about the options that are available to you.