Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Restriction: Complete mentoring
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Restriction: Complete mentoring

National Restrictions Library 2.0: This restriction applies to restictions imposed or accepted from 16 September 2024. For restrictions imposed or accepted before this date please see the National Restrictions Library 1.0.

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Restriction description

A registered practitioner must mentor practitioners with this restriction. The mentor must have the training, experience or qualifications necessary to be a mentor for the topics specified in the restrictions. 

Mentoring is when someone shares their knowledge, skills and experience with another person to help them to improve.

We must approve the mentor and the mentoring program to ensure it will cover the specific concerns about the practitioner. 

The practitioner must show evidence that they have:

  • completed the mentoring 
  • thought about how to incorporate what they learnt in their work to prevent similar concerns.

We monitor compliance by checking that the practitioner:

  • meets all required timeframes
  • proposes mentoring that will deal with the concerns we raised 
  • completes the mentoring required
  • reflects on how they will change their practice.

If audit is required

The practitioner must have their practice audited to show that they have incorporated what they learnt into their work to prevent similar concerns.

We must approve the nominated auditor and audit plan to ensure that the audit will focus on the required areas.

The practitioner must show evidence of the completed audit.

We monitor compliance with this restriction by checking:

  • the practitioner’s proposed auditor and audit plan will adequately assess the identified concerns
  • the findings of the audit.

Full text of restriction

  1. The practitioner must be mentored by an approved mentor addressing #Board’s concerns# for a minimum of #number# sessions on a #frequency# basis, with each session being of #duration# hours in duration. 

Option 1: no audit

  1. The practitioner must: 
    1. comply with the Ahpra Protocol: Complete mentoring (337 KB,PDF) in force at the date these conditions are imposed and then as updated from time to time.
    2. complete the mentoring within #timeframe# of the start date of this condition. The start date is #date#.

Option 2: with audit

  1. Following completion of the mentoring, the practitioner must undergo an audit of their practice (the audit), including any supporting records. The audit and the audit report are to focus on #Board’s concerns# and must include, at a minimum, #audit requirement#. 
  2. The practitioner must: 
    1. comply with the Ahpra Protocol: Complete mentoring (337 KB,PDF) and the Ahpra Protocol: Complete audit (293 KB,PDF) in force at the date these conditions are imposed and then as updated from time to time
    2. complete the mentoring within #timeframe# of the start date of this condition. The start date is #date#.
    3. complete the audit within #timeframe# of the completion of the mentoring. 
  3. <include if required> (TTMR dental only) The practitioner is not required to comply with section 5.2 of the Complete audit (293 KB,PDF).

You will receive a monitoring plan that details contact information, due dates, and the information you will need to provide to show that you are complying with your restrictions.

  • Acknowledging the requirements:
    Read and acknowledge:
  • Nominating a mentor 
    • nominate a mentor and include their CV and a mentoring plan 
  • Approving the mentor and plan 
    • Your nomination will be assessed based on the requirements of the Protocol  
    • You will be advised if your mentoring nomination has been approved or rejected
  • Completing mentoring
    • Complete the mentoring as per your approved nomination
  • Submitting evidence of compliance
    • Submit evidence of completion of the mentoring within the timeframe provided in your restrictions.
    • Write and submit a reflective practice report that demonstrates your reflections on the issues that resulted in the requirement to complete mentoring
  • Removal of the restrictions
    • We will assess the evidence and consider removal of the restrictions once all associated requirements (including audit if required) have been met.
    • You will be advised of the outcome
  • Removing the restrictions
    • Once approved, the restrictions will be removed from your registration. 

Forms

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Where can you seek further information about your restrictions?

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Please contact your case officer for more information. 

For general information see our Frequently asked questions about Monitoring and compliance page

If you have not yet received contact details for your case officer, please email your enquiry.

Where can you go to for support?

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We are here to support and guide you through your compliance. 

The contact details for your case officer are included on all our correspondence with you.

We also encourage you to use independent support services, including those provided on our Practitioner support services page.

You can also contact your legal representative or professional union to support you.

What if your mentor nomination is incomplete?

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Incomplete nominations will not be progressed. You must provide the missing information before your nomination will be considered.

Where an incomplete nomination results in delays in the completion of the mentoring, we may consider taking action in response to the non-compliance.

What if your nomination is not approved?

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Generally, we will provide a further opportunity to nominate a different mentor, or to address any shortfalls in the nomination. 

Repeated failures to make an appropriate nomination and/or delays in providing the required nominations may be considered non-compliance with your restrictions and result in further regulatory action being taken.

What if your nominated mentor is no longer available?

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Contact your Ahpra case officer as soon as possible. You will be required to provide evidence of discontinuation and make a new nomination to complete any outstanding topics or requirements within 30 days of the date of the mentor’s withdrawal. Your new nomination should include a new mentoring plan.

Can you start your mentoring before your nomination is considered?

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It is recommended that you do not commence the program of mentoring before we have considered your nomination and approved it. If we do not approve your nomination, any mentoring undertaken prior to an approval may not be counted towards the requirements of your restrictions and you may be required to complete additional mentoring at your own cost.

Can you complete your mentoring virtually?

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Mentoring via videoconference may be considered. Both you and your mentor should confirm in your plan that you have access to reliable internet, web camera, speakers, and microphone and, where required, how you will securely share patient records and personal information for review and/or case studies. Mentoring via audio communication only is unlikely to be approved. 

The mentoring plan should also specifically address how the mentoring will be delivered in the event of issues involving bandwidth, video quality, broadband interruptions, and other technical issues. 

Only mentoring which includes real time interaction with your mentor will be approved. Pre-recorded video and audio content will generally not be considered sufficient in isolation. 

What if your mentor reports concerns about your practise?

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If a report indicates there are or continue to be concerns that relate to your conduct or performance, we may consider whether this requires any further regulatory action. This is considered on a case-by-case basis and includes the nature of the original concerns resulting in your restrictions, any remedial action taken by you including completion of education, seeking input from peers and or safeguards that provide adequate protection to the public such as supervision.

What if you can’t locate a mentor?

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You should contact your professional indemnity provider, association or union in the first instance. 

If you are still unable to locate a mentor, you should contact Ahpra using the details provided in your monitoring plan. If you are unable to locate a mentor we may consider an alternative form of regulatory action such as requiring one-on-one education or a period of supervised practice.

How do you write a reflective practice report?

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Ahpra has published information on preparing a reflective report you can access on the website.

If, following consideration of the reports from your mentor and your reflective practice report, we are not satisfied the mentoring has addressed the risk that led to your restrictions, we may impose further restrictions to protect the public.

If you are unable to comply with the requirements, what should you do?

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You must contact your Ahpra case officer or team as soon as possible if you have had a change of circumstances or are unable to comply with the requirements for any reason. See your monitoring plan for contact information.

You may be able to apply for a change in your restrictions, or an extension of time to complete your mentoring. Circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis.

 
View the
National Restrictions Library 2.0 View all
Ahpra Protocols
 
 
Page reviewed 13/09/2024
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