Published: June 3, 2019
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Current focus of unannounced assessment contacts

The expected outcomes that are the current focus of unannounced assessment contacts and are most frequently not met across the sector are:

• Expected outcome 1.6 Human resource management
• Expected outcome 1.8 Information systems
• Expected outcome 2.4 Clinical care
• Expected outcome 2.7 Medication management
• Expected outcome 2.8 Pain management
• Expected outcome 2.11 Skin care
• Expected outcome 2.13 Behavioural management
• Expected outcome 3.2 Regulatory compliance
• Expected outcome 3.6 Privacy and dignity
• Expected outcome 4.4 Living environment

NOTE: This information is for the period of July 2018 to October 2018 and is current as at 19 November 2018.

Published: June 3, 2019
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Commission increases unannounced weekend visits

As was published recently in the ‘Aged Care Quality Bulletin #5, May 2019’ the Commission recently increased the number of ‘unannounced visits’ made to residential aged care services commencing on the weekend and after-hours to assist with the assessment and monitoring of performance within a 24-hour service delivery environment.

This builds on the Commission’s after-hours and weekends monitoring visits that are already in place as a result of escalated concerns, referrals or identified risks.

The extension of the monitoring program supports assessment and monitoring visits in the early hours of the morning, late in the evening, and across weekends.

To determine the focus of any unannounced assessment contact, the assessment team usually interviews the person in charge of the service and asks a series of questions to identify possible areas of risk. These questions are widely promoted, and available to view on the Commission website.

Read more:

Commission increases unannounced weekend visits

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #5, May 2019

Assessment contacts

Published: June 3, 2019
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Determining the scope of unannounced assessment contacts

The focus of unannounced assessment contacts will be on known areas of risk which may include:

• areas identified from previous assessment activities
• expected outcomes of the standards that are most frequently not met across the sector
• risk based campaigns such as infection control.

The assessment team interviews the person in charge of the service and this includes questions around the key areas of risk that reflect the expected outcomes which are the current focus of unannounced assessment contacts.

Responses to the questions do not need to be exhaustively detailed. However, where necessary, the assessment team may request additional details and documents to verify responses throughout the course of the assessment contact

The response to the questions will inform the scope of the assessment contact.

The following questions will be asked to identify key areas of risk:

1. Have there been any adverse findings by another regulatory agency or oversight body in the last 12 months? (e.g. Healthcare complaints commission or similar, Food safety authority, Workcover etc).
2. What trends do your complaints data show you?
3. How many consumers are receiving pressure area care?
4. Have there been any medication incidents in the past 6 months where a consumer required hospitalisation or attention by a medical officer?
5. How many consumers have had falls and required medical attention in the past 3 months?
6. How many consumers at the service are currently receiving psychotropic medications? (To be captured as a rate or percent of total consumers at the service.) How many consumers are restrained in order to manage risks to themselves or others at the service? (To be captured as a rate or percent of total consumers at the service.)
7. Can you tell me about incidents in the past 6 months where a consumer or staff member has required medical attention as a result of a challenging behaviour from a consumer?

Read more:

Determining the scope of unannounced assessment contacts

Assessment contacts in residential aged care (.pdf)

Published: May 31, 2019
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Influenza Outbreaks in South Australian Residential Care Services

Influenza activity has been increasing in South Australia over recent weeks, and the number of cases is likely to keep rising as we move further into the influenza season.

Residential care facilities are particularly susceptible to outbreaks of influenza, and the Communicable Disease Control Branch of SA Health has provided information for South Australian residential care services.

This information includes details on how to report any suspected influenza outbreaks to SA Health, where to go for further advice on managing influenza outbreaks, and links to relevant guidelines and resources.

Read more:

Influenza Outbreaks in South Australian Residential Care Services

Letter from SA Health to South Australian residential care facilities

Published: May 31, 2019
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Participate in a CHSP wellness and reablement workforce capability development project

As a Provider of Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services, we invite you to participate in a project to help design training for CHSP service providers to successfully apply wellness and reablement. By participating, you will be helping to:

• Identify the people capabilities that lead to successfully applying wellness and reablement in CHSP services
• Pinpoint the current level of capability within the many segments of the provider workforce
• Shape the future training program on wellness and reablement in the provider workforce

Read more:

Participate in a CHSP wellness and reablement – workforce capability development project

Registration Form

Published: May 29, 2019
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We have a new Aged Care Minister

Following the re-election of the Liberal Party, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has shuffled the cabinet positions around, removing Member of Parliament, Mr Ken Wyatt from his spot as Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians.

Taking over the Aged Care and Senior Australians portfolios from Mr Wyatt is Tasmanian Senator, Mr Richard Colbeck, previously the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources.

Senator Colbeck says, “It is an important time in aged care, particularly with the Aged Care Royal Commission underway and the need to support senior Australians in their later life.

Read more:

Cabinet reshuffle results in new Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians

Published: May 27, 2019
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Updates to Guidance and Resources for Providers to support the Aged Care Quality Standards

Updated: 27 May 2019

Glossary

• Update to entry for Consumer-centred care – Care and services that are designed around an individual’s needs, preference and background. It includes partnership between consumers and providers.

Updated: 15 May 2019

New legislation:

• Aged Care Quality Act 1997 (Cth), User Rights Amendment (Charter of Aged Care Rights) Principles 2019
• Quality of Care Amendment (Minimising the Use of Restraints) Principles 2019

New content added to:

• Standard 3 – Requirement (3)(b): ““minimising restrictive practices – These interventions have high potential for harm and are practices that organisations can avoid with positive changes in how they assess, plan and deliver personal and clinical care for consumers. If an organisation uses restrictive practices such as physical or chemical restraint, these are expected to be consistent with best practice and used as a last resort, for as short a time as possible and comply with relevant legislation.”
• Standard 8 – Requirement (3)(d): “Records show how staff are trained and supported to assess or evaluate the use of restraints in order to minimise or eliminate their use.”
• Standard 8 – Requirement (3)(d): “Evidence of how the organisation monitors and reports on the use of restraints.”
• Standard 8 – Requirement (3)(e): “(ii) Minimising the use of restraint – Restraint means any practice, device or action that interferes with a consumer’s ability to make a decision or restricts a consumer’s free movement. Where restraint is clinically necessary to prevent harm, the organisation should have systems to manage how restraints are used. This is in accordance with legislation and the organisation’s policies on reporting the use of restraints.”
• Standard 8 – Requirement (3)(e): “Evidence of appropriate authorisation and consent for the use of restraints in compliance with legislation.”

Glossary – Restrictive practices: “The use of interventions and practices that have the effect of restricting the rights or freedom of movement of a person with disability. These primarily include restraint and seclusion.Chemical restraint means a restraint that is, or that involves, the use of medication or a chemical substance for the purpose of influencing a person’s behaviour, other than medication prescribed for the treatment of, or to enable treatment of, a diagnosed mental disorder, a physical illness or a physical condition. Physical restraint means any restraint other than: (a) a chemical restraint; or (b) the use of medication prescribed for the treatment of, or to enable treatment of, a diagnosed mental disorder, a physical illness or a physical condition. This guidance adopts the general principle that restrictive practices are only implemented as a last resort; are implemented for the least amount of time possible; are recorded, monitored and reviewed; have tight safeguards in place that are focused on minimising risk to consumers, staff, and others; and are undertaken with a focus on ensuring decency, humanity and respect at all stages.”

Glossary – Clinical governance: “An integrated set of leadership, behaviours, policies, procedures, responsibilities, relationships and monitoring and improvement mechanisms that are directed towards ensuring good clinical outcomes. Effective clinical governance systems ensure that everyone – from unregulated care providers, to employed or external regulated health practitioners, to managers and members of governing bodies such as boards – is accountable to consumers and the community for the delivery of clinical care that is safe, effective, integrated, high quality and continuously improving.”

Read more:

Updates to Guidance and Resources for Providers to support the Aged Care Quality Standards

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