Background: Although models of Specialist Palliative Care Services are well established nationally and internationally, evidence on the models of Allied Health who work within Specialist Palliative Care is limited. This presentation will discuss structural and system change on how to optimise Allied Health models in Palliative Care.

Aim: In 2020, the Community Palliative Care Service initiated a Healthcare Redesign project to review the community model of care. Redesign methodology is a form of translational research using ‘action research methods’ informed by an evidence-based framework for innovation. A review of the workforce structure of the service was concurrently undertaken. Allied Health was a key focus area of this work.

 Methods: The Redesign Diagnostic Phase involved collecting data from staff at process mapping and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) workshops. Clinical governance and service escalation issues for Allied Health clinicians was identified as a significant issue. Workforce structural changes occurred as part of the solution and implementation phase. Individual Palliative Care staff or small ‘siloed teams’ were co-located ‘to a community centre.

Results: Changes to the service have led to a best practice exemplar Community Palliative Care Allied Health model. Management of staff and allocation of Allied Health resources now occur in a coordinated way. Clinical governance has enhanced through well-defined referral criteria and pathways, day to day care coordination; escalation of care for the deteriorating patients, effective multi-disciplinary team processes and professional development.

Conclusions: Health services, managers and policy makers need to consider the role of Allied Health in the design and delivery of Palliative Care health services in order to meet increasing demand of palliative care needs of the Australian population. Additionally, the need for models for Specialist Allied Health teams, leadership roles and pathways are essential to support the ongoing sustainability of specialist services and to enhance clinical governance.