A full description will be posted on Moodle in the Assessment section.

For this assessment task, (conducted face to face), you will be required to complete an Objective Structured Clinical Examination based an an adult clinical swallowing scenario. An actor will play the role of the "client/caregiver"

A brief outline of each timed section is provided below with additional details provided on Moodle.

1. Interpret background information and plan case history interview (15 minutes)

You will be given a brief written case history on a client with a swallowing disorder. In this 15 minutes you will prepare for your interview with the client/carer and the subsequent swallow assessment. You will need to consider your questioning and what materials you will need for the interview

2. Interview client and/or carer- case history  (5 minutes)

You will be required to interview the client and/or carer and take an appropriate case history, using information you obtained from the initial referral, and take relevant notes, identify any missing information required to conduct the assessment and develop recommendations and a management plan. 

3. Consider case history findings and plan assessment (5 minutes)

You will have 5 minutes to consider the information you obtained from the case history and consolidate your assessment plan based on the new information.

4. Report on assessment plan (5 minutes)

You will be asked to describe your assessment plan to an assessor and provide and explanation of: 1) What you will assess; 2) How you will assess; and 3) Why you will assess these areas. You will need to verbally demonstrate your clinical reasoning and justification of decision making.

5. Conduct an oromotor examination and clinical swallow assessment (5 minutes)

You will conduct an oromotor examination and clinical swallow assessment using appropriate food/fluid textures for the situation/client. You will need to demonstrate a comprehensive oromotor examination and clinical swallow assessment and respond in real time to the client and their response to the scenario.

6. Consider assessment findings and plan intervention (5 minutes)

You will have 5 minutes to consider the information you obtained from the oromotor assessment and clinical swallow examination and plan your swallow intervention.

7. Report on intervention plan (5 minutes)

You will be asked to describe your intervention plan to an assessor and provide and explanation of the education and swallow intervention you intend to implement. You will need to verbally demonstrate your clinical reasoning and justification of decision making.

8. Implementation of swallow interventions (10 minutes)

You will explain your findings from the swallow assessment to the client/carer demonstrating clear clinical reasoning and problem solving skills. You will also negotiate an EBP therapy plan with the simulated client/carer and then implement it, demonstrating two compensatory and two rehabilitative therapy techniques with your client/carer. The most suitable treatment options for the presenting issues should be demonstrated. You will need to facilitate active participation by the client/caregiver and provide feedback on their responses. You will be required to respond to any clinical questions that the client/carer has regarding their dysphagia.

9. Reflect on session (10 Minutes)

You will be required to reflect on the clinical session with the assessor using critical reasoning as you discuss your performance and thoughts for ongoing management of the client.

Full assessment criteria will be available on Moodle. A summary is below.

You will be assessed using criteria outlined in Speech Pathology Australia's Professional Standards. This includes your reasoning, professional conduct and reflective practice skills. To pass this task, You MUST PASS each section of the rubric in order to pass this assessment.

A summary of the behavioural expectations for a pass mark are listed below:

• Your clinical reasoning demonstrates accurate integration of theory (i.e., knowledge from unit content and readings) and case information (i.e., the client background/needs and the service delivery setting)

• You demonstrate that you can integrate some knowledge obtained via independent study (i.e., additional reading).

• When working with simulated clients you demonstrate the ability to maintain complete focus on the client in a routine situation (i.e., there are no unexpected responses from the client, you may have lapses in professionalism when presented with unexpected situations).

• When working with simulated clients you demonstrate knowledge and application of culturally safe (i.e., communicate in a manner that is appropriate for that client’s background) and responsive communication (i.e., you respond to their interactions) and service .

• You can develop complete assessment and intervention plans that consider all aspects of the client including other health conditions or cultural and linguistic differences.

• You can reflect on your performance and what factors may be contributing to your interpretation of information and/or the conclusions and recommendations you make, showing self-awareness.

Late Arrivals:

You should aim to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the official assessment commencement time. In the extraordinary circumstance you are late you will be permitted late entry to your assessment of up to 10 minutes after the official commencement time. The period of lateness will be deducted from you overall assessment time. If you are denied access to the assessment due to lateness (i.e. arriving beyond the permitted late entry period), you should make an online application for deferred assessment (which may or may not be granted in line with CQU policy). If your application for deferred assessment is denied, you will receive a score of zero percent (0%) for your assessment item but may be eligible for a supplementary assessment in line with CQU policy.

A full description will be posted on Moodle in the Assessment section.

For this assessment task, (conducted face to face), you will be required to complete an Objective Structured Clinical Examination based on a paediatric clinical swallowing scenario. An actor will play the role of the " caregiver" and the child “client” will be represented with a simulation doll.

A brief outline of each timed section is provided below with additional details provided on Moodle.

1. Interpret background information and plan case history interview (15 minutes)

You will be given a brief written case history on a client with a swallowing disorder. In this 15 minutes you will prepare for your interview with the carer and the subsequent swallow assessment. You will need to consider your questioning and what materials you will need for the interview.

2. Interview carer- case history (5 minutes)

You will be required to interview the carer, taking an appropriate case history, using information you obtained from the initial referral,  and take relevant notes, and identify any missing information required to conduct the assessment and develop recommendations and management plan. You should also observe the client and their behaviours.

3. Consider case history findings and plan assessment (5 minutes)

You will have 5 minutes to consider the information you obtained from the case history and consolidate your assessment plan based on the new information.

4. Report on assessment plan (5 minutes)

You will be asked to describe your assessment plan to an assessor and provide and explanation of: 1) What you will assess; 2) How you will assess; and 3) Why you will assess these areas. You will need to verbally demonstrate your clinical reasoning and justification of decision making.

5. Conduct an oromotor examination and clinical swallow assessment (5 minutes)

You will conduct an oromotor examination and clinical swallow assessment using appropriate food/fluid textures for the situation/client. You will need to demonstrate an appropriate oromotor examination and clinical swallow assessment and support the carer to feed the client. The carer will let you know how the child responds i.e., the carer will say "they coughed on that biscuit".

6. Consider assessment findings and plan intervention (5 minutes)

You will have 5 minutes to consider the information you obtained from the oromotor assessment and clinical swallow examination and plan your swallow intervention.

7. Report on intervention plan (5 minutes)

You will be asked to describe your intervention plan to an assessor and provide and explanation of the education and swallow intervention. You will need to verbally demonstrate your clinical reasoning and justification of decision making.

8. Implementation of swallow interventions (10 minutes)

You will explain your findings from the swallow assessment to the carer demonstrating clear clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills and, negotiate an EBP therapy plan with the carer and then implement it, demonstrating two compensatory and two rehabilitative therapy techniques with the carer and client. . The carer will let you know how the client responds e.g., the carer will say “they swallowed that water”. You will need to support the carer, if required, during this process. 

The most suitable treatment options for the presenting issues should be demonstrated. You will need to facilitate active participation by the carer and provide feedback on their responses. You will be required to respond to any clinical questions that the carer has regarding their dysphagia.

9. Reflect on session (10 Minutes)

You will be required to reflect on the clinical session with the assessor using critical reasoning as you discuss your performance and thoughts for ongoing management of the client.

Full assessment criteria will be available on Moodle. A summary is below.

You will be assessed using criteria outlined in Speech Pathology Australia's Professional Standards. This includes your reasoning, professional conduct and reflective practice skills. To pass this task, You MUST PASS each section of the rubric in order to pass this assessment.

A summary of the behavioural expectations for a pass mark are listed below:

• Your clinical reasoning demonstrates accurate integration of theory (i.e., knowledge from unit content and readings) and case information (i.e., the client background/needs and the service delivery setting)

• You demonstrate that you can integrate some knowledge obtained via independent study (i.e., additional reading).

• When working with simulated clients you demonstrate the ability to maintain complete focus on the client in a routine situation (i.e., there are no unexpected responses from the client, you may have lapses in professionalism when presented with unexpected situations).

• When working with simulated clients you demonstrate knowledge and application of culturally safe (i.e., communicate in a manner that is appropriate for that client’s background) and responsive communication (i.e., you respond to their interactions) and service .

• You can develop complete assessment and intervention plans that consider all aspects of the client including other health conditions or cultural and linguistic differences.

• You can reflect on your performance and what factors may be contributing to your interpretation of information and/or the conclusions and recommendations you make, showing self-awareness.

Late Arrivals:

You should aim to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the official assessment commencement time. In the extraordinary circumstance you are late you will be permitted late entry to your assessment of up to 10 minutes after the official commencement time. The period of lateness will be deducted from you overall assessment time. If you are denied access to the assessment due to lateness (i.e. arriving beyond the permitted late entry period), you should make an online application for deferred assessment (which may or may not be granted in line with CQU policy). If your application for deferred assessment is denied, you will receive a score of zero percent (0%) for your assessment item but may be eligible for a supplementary assessment in line with CQU policy.