Month: October 2019

Residential aged care providers should now have collected quality indicator data for each of the three quality indicators for July, August, and September 2019.

The first quarter QI Program data must be submitted to the department no later than 21 October 2019.

Check the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program Manual 1.0 (the Manual) to make sure that you have met the mandatory requirements.

The Manual includes:

• definitions for each quality indicator
• instructions for collecting and submitting quality indicator data.

Read more:

National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program (QI Program) – First quarter data submission

National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program Manual 1.0 (.pdf)

The department is currently trialling reablement based assessment in several aged care planning regions under the Promoting Independent Living Budget Measure (the Measure). This trial has implications for CHSP service providers in the trial regions, and will deliver training materials for use by all CHSP providers. A factsheet outlining how CHSP providers are impacted is available on the department’s website.

Read more:

Promoting Independent Living – Information for CHSP Providers

Promoting Independent Living Budget measure: Impact for CHSP Providers

Residential and home care service providers can now apply for free independent business advisory services to help them review their operations and provide advice on business management and financial strategies.

Two tiers of services will be available, both targeting the identification of strategies to help improve the provider’s business management and operations:

• Tier 1 services will be delivered through a desktop review;
• Tier 2 services will be delivered by both desktop review and time spent on site at the provider’s premises.

Read more:

Accounting and Business Advisory Services now available

Business advisory services for aged care providers

At its hearing in Melbourne, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety marked the passing of the Honourable Richard Tracey AM RFD QC. Commissioner Tracey died on Friday, 11 October, after a short illness. He was 71.

Commissioner Tracey was appointed Chair of the Royal Commission on 6 December 2018. He was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 2006 until 2018, having been appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1991. He served in the Australian Army from 1975 until 2014, achieving the rank of Major-General. He was Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force from 2007 until 2014, and President of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal from 2009 until 2018.

Commissioner Lynelle Briggs AO said that “[Commissioner Tracey] was experienced. He was wise. He was admired. He knew the law like the back of his hand. He was prepared to take a punt if it meant getting a better outcome for older Australians.”

Read more:

The Honourable Richard Tracey AM RFD QC

In this issue:

• Summary page in the My Aged Care portals
• Charter of Aged Care Rights – educational activities

Home Care:

• Home Care Pricing compliance monitoring

Residential Care:

• Multi-Purpose Services – Residential Flexible Places Allocations Round is now open
• National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program – First quarter data collection and the introduction of 2 New Quality Indicators
• Residential Aged Care Funding Reform update

Read more:

Information for the Aged Care Sector – Issue 2019/15 (.pdf)

The consultation period for ACFA’s project looking at the financial impact of improving home care payments arrangements is now open. In forming its advice to Government, ACFA is seeking written submissions responding to its consultation paper by 12 November 2019.

Read more:

The Aged Care Financing Authority (ACFA) project on improving home care payment arrangements – consultation period now open

The Royal Commission into Aged Care has announced the release of its first research paper.

The research paper, titled, How Australian residential aged care staffing levels compare with international and national benchmarks, was prepared by Australian Health Services Research Institute at the University of Wollongong.

Read more:

Research Paper 1 – How Australian residential aged care staffing levels compare with international and national benchmarks (.pdf)

4 Hearings are currently upcoming:

Melbourne Hearing 2 – Diversity in aged care

Melbourne hearing 2 will inquire into diversity in aged care, including culturally and linguistically diverse people, LGBTI groups, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, care leavers, veterans, and the homeless or those at risk of homelessness.

• Date: 7 – 9 October and 11 October 2019
• Location: Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000
• Time: 9:30am local time

Melbourne Hearing 3 – Aged care workforce

Melbourne hearing 3 will inquire into the aged care workforce, with a focus on how to enhance capacity and how to make the aged care sector a more attractive and rewarding place to work.

• Date: 14 – 18 October 2019
• Location: Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000
• Time: 9:30am local time

Mudgee Hearing – Provision of aged care in regional areas

The Mudgee Hearing will inquire into arrangements for and issues associated with the provision of aged care services in regional areas, including Multi-Purpose Services. The Hearing will have a particular focus on aged care services in the Mudgee region.

• Date: 4 – 6 November 2019
• Location: TBC
• Time: 9:30am local time

Hobart Hearing – Aged care operations of selected Approved Providers

The Hobart Hearing will inquire into the operations of selected Approved Providers that operate residential aged care facilities in Tasmania and elsewhere in Australia.

• Date: 11 – 15 November 2019
• Location: TBC
• Time: 9:30am local time

Read more:

Hearings

The Australian Retirement Village Accreditation Scheme (ARVAS) will be the new exclusive accreditation scheme for retirement village and seniors housing operators.

ARVAS is co-owned by two organisations that represent the owners and operators of retirement villages and seniors housing: Property Council of Australia and Leading Age Services Australia (LASA).

ARVAS replaces two previous schemes, Lifemark and International Retirement Community Accreditation Scheme (IRCAS). The ARVAS Standards, currently in draft and published for industry consultation and feedback comprise seven quality areas:

• Standard 1 – Community Management – The Community is managed efficiently and effectively; the manager is a positive and proactive leader of the team with a strong customer service orientation.
• Standard 2 – Human Resource Management – Employment management practices ensure that the quality and quantity of staff are sufficient to meet operational needs.
• Standard 3 – Resident Entry and Exit – Processes for managing resident entry and exit are effective and focus on a positive resident experience.
• Standard 4 – Resident Engagement and Feedback – Engages residents effectively.
• Standard 5 – Environment, Services and Facilities – The environment, service and facilities are managed in accordance with contractual obligations and managed effectively.
• Standard 6 – Safety and Security – Processes for managing safety and security are effective.
• Standard 7 – Resident Care (where applicable) – Residents receive safe, high quality care consistent with their needs and preferences.

Read more:

Australian Retirement Village Accreditation Scheme (ARVAS) Standards

The trial is expected to start in late 2019 and run until mid-2020. It will:

• test the AN-ACC assessment tool and supporting software, hardware and IT systems
• test the processes to manage an assessment workforce, and
• confirm findings about the expected distribution of resident classifications.

Approved providers were invited to participate in the trial through an Expression of Interest process. Assessment delivery partners were recently sought through an open Request For Tender.

The department is developing a sampling strategy to ensure the trial provides representative coverage of regions and types of facilities, and will advise approved providers of the outcome after we engage the assessment partners.

Read more:

Residential aged care funding reform

Residential Aged Care Funding Reform Trial: Factsheet (.pdf)