Delegation of Care Nursing Services
PROFESSIONAL NURSING DELEGATION
Clear Clinical Responsibilities for Safer Participant Care
Heal at Home provides nursing delegation services for children, adults and older Australians receiving clinical support in private homes, supported accommodation and community settings. Delegation of care begins with a comprehensive nursing assessment. Our registered nurses consider the participant’s health needs, clinical risks, care environment and the complexity of the activity before deciding whether an aspect of care can be safely delegated to another person.
Where delegation is clinically appropriate, we develop a participant specific nursing care plan, provide staff training, assess each worker’s competency and establish clear supervision, documentation and escalation requirements. Our experienced clinical nurses and clinical nurse educators apply professional judgement with consideration of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, or NMBA, decision making framework, applicable AHPRA requirements and relevant NDIS Practice Standards.
Our Delegation of Care Services
A Complete Clinical Governance Process
Comprehensive Nursing Assessment
Delegation Suitability Assessment
Participant Specific Care Plans
Risk and Escalation Planning
Staff Training
Individual Competency Assessment
Nursing Delegation Documentation
Clinical Supervision
Ongoing Review and Reassessment
Workforce Capability Support
HIGH INTENSITY SUPPORT ADVISORY SERVICES
Supports That May Be Considered for Delegation
- Depending on the participant’s assessed needs and level of clinical risk, delegation may be considered for aspects of:
- Medication, diabetes and insulin support
- Complex bowel, continence, catheter and stoma care
- PEG, enteral feeding and subcutaneous injections
- Epilepsy and emergency medication procedures
- Ventilator, BiPAP, oxygen and respiratory support
- Tracheostomy care
- Wound care and pressure injury prevention
- Clinical monitoring and documentation
- Recognition of clinical deterioration
- Delegation is assessed individually, with some procedures requiring a registered nurse or appropriately qualified health professional.
What We Assess
Our Delegation Assessment Criteria
- Before delegating an aspect of care, our registered nurse may assess:
- Participant health condition, medical history and clinical risks
- Medical orders, specialist instructions and existing care plans
- Care complexity, predictability and potential risks of incorrect care
- Communication needs, equipment, consumables and care environment
- Worker role, experience, practical skills and demonstrated competency
- Nursing supervision, emergency escalation, documentation, governance and review timeframes
- The registered nurse must determine that delegation is safe, appropriate and in the participant’s interests.
Delegation Reviewed
When Delegation Must Be Reviewed
- Delegation should be reviewed when:
- The participant’s health condition changes
- Medical orders or treatment instructions change
- The care plan is updated
- A new worker joins the care team
- A worker’s competency changes or expires
- New equipment or consumables are introduced
- A clinical incident or near miss occurs
- The activity has not been performed regularly
- The participant changes provider or residence
- Adequate nursing supervision is no longer available
- The scheduled review date is reached
- The registered nurse may modify, suspend or withdraw delegation when it is no longer safe or appropriate.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
Clear Delegation Guidance
For Safer Care
Following the assessment, you may receive:
Nursing Assessment Report
Participant Specific Care Plan
Risk and Escalation Guidance
Staff Training
Individual Competency Assessment
Delegation Record
Participant Specific Training and Competency
Competency Must Be Demonstrated, Not Assumed
- Before receiving a delegated activity, each worker must demonstrate that they can:
- Understand the participant’s clinical needs and follow the current nursing care plan
- Perform procedures correctly, using equipment, consumables and infection prevention measures safely
- Recognise warning signs, complications and unexpected events, and respond appropriately
- Follow escalation and emergency procedures, including when nursing or medical assistance is required
- Complete required documentation and work within their role, competence and activity limitations
- Training attendance does not establish competency workers must demonstrate the required knowledge and practical skills specific to the participant, activity and circumstances.
Nursing Supervision and Clinical Governance
Ongoing Oversight After Delegation
- Delegation is not a one time administrative process. The registered nurse determines the level, frequency and method of supervision required. Supervision may include:
- Scheduled nursing visits
- Direct observation of the delegated activity
- Review of clinical records and monitoring information
- Telephone or remote clinical consultation
- Review following an incident or change in health
- Refresher training
- Competency reassessment
- Care plan updates
- Communication with the participant’s healthcare team
- Withdrawal or modification of delegation when risks change
- The required supervision depends on the participant’s condition, the complexity of the activity, the worker’s experience and the stability of the care environment.
How the Assessment Process Works
Simple, Clear And Personalised
Contact or Refer
Call our team or complete the nursing assessment referral form.
Initial Discussion
We discuss the reason for referral, current concerns and available clinical information.
Nursing Assessment
A registered nurse completes a comprehensive assessment in the client’s home or another agreed location.
Clinical Documentation
We prepare the relevant assessment report, nursing care plan and recommendations.
Review and Next Steps
We explain the recommendations and discuss nursing care, training or further clinical support where required.
Delegation Works
How Delegation of Care Works
Contact or Refer
Clinical Information Review
Nursing Assessment
Delegation Decision
Care Plan Development
Training and Competency Assessment
Delegation and Supervision
Ongoing Review
Delegation of Care Benefits
Benefits of Professional Nursing Delegation
Safer Participant Support
Clear Roles and Responsibilities
Competent Care Teams
Consistent Clinical Care
Appropriate Nursing Oversight
Greater Choice and Independence
Service Does Not Include
What Our Delegation Service Does Not Include
- Heal at Home focuses exclusively on nursing. Our delegation of care service does not:
- Guarantee that a clinical activity will be suitable for delegation
- Delegate activities that require a registered nurse or another qualified health professional
- Provide delegation without a current nursing assessment
- Guarantee that every worker will demonstrate competency
- Transfer competency or delegation automatically between participants
- Replace medical orders or plans required from a GP or specialist
- Authorise workers to practise outside their role or competence
- Replace the employing provider’s governance and workplace responsibilities
- Guarantee compliance or funding outcomes
- If the required medical instructions, care plans or clinical information are incomplete, further information may be required before delegation can be considered.
Why Choose Heal at Home?
Experienced Nursing Delegation Across Australia
- Heal at Home is a proudly Australian and family owned nursing organisation. Nursing is our sole focus and what we do best. Our delegation services are provided by experienced registered nurses and clinical nurse educators with extensive knowledge of community nursing, complex clinical care, staff education and competency assessment.
- Comprehensive nursing assessments, individual delegation decisions and participant-specific care plans
- Experienced clinical nurses and nurse educators providing staff training, practical education and competency assessments
- Clear delegation documentation, risk and escalation guidance, ongoing supervision, refresher training and reassessment
- Clinical governance support aligned with NMBA, AHPRA and relevant NDIS requirements across metropolitan, regional and country communities
- We currently provide services across South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
What Our Clients Say About Heal at Home
See what our clients and families have to say about their experience with Heal at Home and our personalised in-home nursing and care services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Delegation occurs when a registered nurse authorises another person to perform a specific aspect of care after determining that it is safe and appropriate in the individual circumstances.
No. Some activities require a registered nurse or another qualified health professional. The decision depends on the participant, activity, risks, worker competence and available supervision.
No. The worker must individually demonstrate the required knowledge and practical competency. The registered nurse must also determine that delegation is clinically appropriate.
No. Delegation is participant, worker, activity and context specific. A separate assessment and competency process may be required for another participant.
The registered nurse remains professionally accountable for the delegation decision and required supervision. The worker remains responsible for performing the activity safely and within their competence.
The review period depends on the participant’s clinical needs and level of risk. Delegation must be reviewed sooner if health needs, medical instructions, workers, equipment or circumstances change.
Yes. We can provide scheduled reviews, clinical consultation, care plan updates, refresher training and competency reassessment according to the agreed service arrangement.
Arrange Delegation of Care
Our Clinical Partners
We work with and maintain professional affiliations with respected Australian nursing and clinical organisations.
Wounds Australia
Clinical Partner
Continence Health
Australia Member
Australian College of Nursing
Affiliate Member
