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SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Certificate: Physiotherapy Assistance 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
17115  Certificate: Physiotherapy Assistance 
ORIGINATOR
Lifecare Health Services 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
QCTO - Quality Council for Trades and Occupations  OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National Certificate  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Preventive Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 4  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifying learners with a core of basic generic skills and professional ethics suitable for working in the rehabilitation field and a limited range of specialised skills. These skills will enable the learner to work as an occupational therapy assistant and be registered on the appropriate register with the Health Professions Council. An Occupational Therapy Assistant is a person who assists the occupational therapist in the treatment of patients and the running of programmes by performing prescribed duties under the supervision and control of a registered occupational therapist. The occupational therapy service in hospitals and clinics is essential to support patients with short-time and long-term diseases in the management and control thereof.

A personal with this qualification will be competent to work under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist. They would assist the therapist in specific clinical and non-clinical tasks, delegated by the therapist, aimed at the overall rehabilitation of patients and clients. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Learners who register for this qualification are expected to have the equivalent of grade 10 (NQF level 2) and proficiency in written and spoken English. They should be able to take responsibility for study under general supervision within a format provided and work according to a timetable and deadlines.

The learner shall be appointed in a Trainee Occupational Theraphy Assistant post in a Life Care Special Health Services facility. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
The person with this qualification will comply with instructions given by a professional registered occupational therapist with regard to therapeutic intervention and work practice. This would entail the Occupational Therapy Assistant to develop competence to work with both the physical ill or disabled and mentally ill or handicapped persons of all age groups and different cultural groups. They will work under direct supervision of an occupational therapist. Supervision ranges from close (daily) to minimal (on a needs basis plus a visit every 2 months) depending on the knowledge and skills of the assistant and the type of treatment programme they are involved in

Critical outcomes:

1. Work effectively in a rehabilitation team by following the teams policies and procedures and being accountable to the team.

2. Use appropriate screening tools to identify the rehabilitation needs of individuals to enable the therapist to plan an appropriate comprehensive assessment and management programme

3. Assist the registered therapist in the planning and implementation of an appropriate management programme based on a comprehensive assessment of the client

4. Execute delegated aspects of a management programs for a client using a range of therapeutic exercises or equipment, maintain health and safety standards and working within the scope identified by the professional Board of Occupational Therapy

5. Communicate and work effectively with peers, colleagues, patients and members of the health care team and the public using oral and written skills, including teaching and basic support skills.

6. Conduct him/her in an ethical and professional manner and observe the legal requirements of the profession by working within the scope of the profession, respecting clients rights, keeping accurate personal and client records and complying with the conditions of employment.

7. Organise and manage oneself and ones activities (within the delegated area of practice). In an effective manner using basic time management tools, department policies and knowledge of basic health and safety.

8. Collect, analyse, organise and evaluate information about their own performance at work and the performance of the client they are working with by: Keeping accurate client records, personal diary or time sheets, basic statistics of clients contact and administrative responsibilities and by reviewing these on a regular basis on consultation with a therapist.

9. Identify and solve problems regarding delegated roles, activities and clients using critical and creative thinking appropriate to their level of competence or by referring to a therapist

10. Commit to life-long learning by maintaining their level of competence, keeping up to date with professional knowledge and skills and contributing to the existing body of knowledge and skills and contributing to the existing body of knowledge of the profession relevant to their level of competence 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • The student will be assessed on a continuous assessment basis. Assessments will consist of theoretical written assessments, practical assessment and ongoing work performance assessment in the clinical environment for each module. The student must succeed in all modules to be eligible to receive the qualification.
  • A student who fails to complete a module may be permitted by the Examination Panel to present him/herself for supplementary examination in that module. A student who fails a supplementary exam may repeat a module and sit the exam a third time.
  • Internal assessors will be the course teachers and the therapy supervisors at the student's place of work. External assessors will be appointed by Life Care special health Services from therapists with an in-depth knowledge of working with assistants or from the professional Board of Occupational Therapy or from the relevant special interests groups or action from the client base.


    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

    Integrated assessment according to criteria of the Professional Board for Occupational Therapy. The assessment should be done by registered occupational therapists. External quality will be assured by appointing appropriate moderators adhering to the criteria of the Health Professionals Council of South Africa. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    The qualification to which the Occupational Theraphy Assistant may proceed is a Diploma in Occupational Therapy Assistance/Diploma in Community Therapy Assistance once a certificate is awarded.

    The candidate may after two years apply to study for a Baccalarius in Occupational Therapy on the recommendation of their supervisor. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The Professional Board of Occupational theraphy from the Health Professionals Council of South Africa and the Council for Higher Education. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Our own staff will be used as assessors in a manner accommodated within the Quality Management System of Life Care. This would apply to outside assessors also. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.