News

The Commission hosted a webinar on 13 July 2021 to discuss the changes to legislation surrounding restrictive practices in aged care.

Watch:

Restrictive practices webinar – 13 July 2021

The Australian Government has introduced new COVID-19 vaccination reporting requirements for residential and in-home aged care providers.

The expanded reporting is necessary to identify the potential level of risk each aged care service faces in the context of a COVID-19 outbreak in residential, in-home and community settings. It will inform how those services, residents and workers can best be supported.

While the new reporting requirements start on 27 July 2021, all providers are encouraged to start reporting voluntarily now.

Details of the reporting requirements on COVID-19 vaccination for aged care providers is available on the Department’s website – Reporting requirements on the COVID-19 vaccination status of aged care workforce.

Read more:

COVID-19 Vaccination reporting requirements extended for residential and home care providers

Reporting requirements on the COVID-19 vaccination status of aged care workforce

The department is seeking feedback on a Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) for in-home aged care services.

This consultation will assist the development of specific design elements to expand the SIRS to home services from 1 July 2022.

Submissions are now open on the department’s Consultation Hub. Feedback on the consultation paper should be submitted by 9 August 2021.

Read more:

Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) – consultation to inform expansion to home care services

Serious Incident Response Scheme for in-home aged care services

This newsletter provides important information on matters affecting the aged care sector, including aged care initiatives, programs and processes.

In this issue:

• New My Aged Care Welcome Pack
• Updates to the My Aged Care website – June 2021
• Aged care reform webinars in July focus on diversity and dementia
• New resource to support Forgotten Australians/Care Leavers
• 2022 Australian of the Year Award nominations
• Services Australia is upgrading its digital health and aged care channels

Residential Care:

• Collect five new Quality Indicators from 1 July 2021
• New legislation on use of restrictive practices

Home Care:

• Forecast Grant Opportunity – Home Care Workforce Support Program
• Home Care Packages Program Data Report 3rd Quarter 2020-21

Read more:

Information for the Aged Care Sector – Issue 2021/12 (.pdf)

The Morrison Government is partnering with the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) for an online learning package aimed at helping aged care providers and health professionals prevent, identify, and respond to sexual abuse.

Funded via a $168,000 grant from the Australian Government, OPAN is working with leading researcher Dr Catherine Barrett to develop Abuse of the older person: eLearning program for health professionals.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck said it was an important contribution to reinforce the safety of those we care for most.

“Assaults on the elderly – in any form – are deplorable,” Minister Colbeck said.

“These incidents were underlined in the findings of the Royal Commission into Age Care Quality and Safety and the Morrison Government is more determined than ever to ensure those in care are treated with respect and dignity.”

Read more:

Online learning to help keep senior Australians safe from sexual abuse

In this edition:

• Commissioner’s message
• Is your outbreak communication plan up to date?
• SIRS insights – valuable provider roundtable feedback and first Commission report
• New SIRS modules now available in Alis
• Amendments to restrictive practices legislation
• Guidance materials available for upcoming Quality Indicator Program changes
• Updates from the Chief Clinical Advisor
• Recent aged care and NDIS worker screening requirements changes
• New online education workshops now open for registrations
• New and updated Commission resources

Read more:

Aged Care Quality Bulletin #30 – June 2021

The Morrison Government is helping aged care workers get vaccinated as part of an $11 million grant program.
Applications are now open for aged care providers to apply for the funding following recommendations mandatory vaccinations be introduced.

The program was established in recognition of the individual circumstances of aged care workers now subject to the new requirement.

National Cabinet endorsed the decision of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for all residential aged care workers by mid-September 2021, when they are required to have at least a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Residential Aged Care COVID-19 Employee Vaccination Support Grant will allow casual residential aged care workers to be paid under the following two categories via their employer:

• A fee of $80 per staff member, per dose, for going off-site for vaccination; and
• Paid sick leave if unwell after vaccination and the staff member has no other leave entitlements – a day’s paid leave (at a rate of $185).

Read more:

Support for mandatory vaccination of residential aged care workers

A list of new and updated resources – including apps, audio and video resources and other publications – about aged care.

Read more:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Information for residential aged care providers – emergency leave (.pdf)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Information for permanent aged care residents – emergency leave (.pdf)

Aged Care Assessment Supplementary Guidelines for Younger People (.pdf)

Summaries of My Aged Care System Changes (link)

Quick Reference Guide: How to access and use the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) portal (.pdf)

My Aged Care Quick Reference Guide – How to access and use the Quality Indicators application (.pdf)

Refundable Accommodation Deposit Support Loan Guidelines (.pdf)

Where aged care workers can get a COVID-19 vaccine – Poster (.pdf)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – National aged care guidance – aged care visitation guidelines (.pdf)

Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) Manual (.pdf)

The Australian Government is working closely with the states and territories to implement the National Cabinet decision to mandate that at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by administered by mid-September 2021 for all residential aged care workers.

In an effort to ensure national consistency, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has considered the key parameters and endorsed the approach to defining who the relevant directions will apply to and the targeted exemptions that may be available.

Read more:

Mandatory vaccination of residential aged care workers

COVID-19 Vaccination to become mandatory for Residential aged care workers

Mandatory vaccination of residential aged care workers (.pdf)

In response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and the findings of the independent review of legislative provisions governing the use of restraint in residential aged care, the Australian Government has introduced measures to clarify and strengthen the regulation around the use of restrictive practices in residential aged care and short-term restorative care in a residential care setting.

These measures are contained in legislative amendments to the Aged Care Act 1997 and Quality of Care Principles 2014 which commence from 1 July 2021, and which clarify the limited circumstances in which restrictive practices can be used in relation to a consumer, including for use in an emergency.

In addition, the amendments:

• introduce the term ‘restrictive practices’ to describe all forms of ‘restraint’
• make changes to the types and definitions of restrictive practices that may be used or applied and align these with those used in the disability sector under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2018 and National Disability Insurance Scheme (Restrictive Practices and Behaviour Support) Rules 2018. These definitions include chemical restraint, environmental restraint, mechanical restraint, physical restraint, and seclusion
• clarify existing provider requirements regarding consent, monitoring and evaluation, and that any restrictive practice is used as a last resort
• include provisions for strengthening regulation of use of restrictive practices to enable the Commission to issue a regulatory notice when non-compliance with the amended Quality of Care Principles is identified.

Read more:

Janet Anderson – Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner – Board Chair and CEO Letter (.pdf)

RB 2021-13 Regulation of restrictive practices and the role of the Senior Practitioner, Restrictive Practices (.pdf)

Exposure draft: Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 1) Principles 2021 (.pdf)

Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response No. 1) Bill 2021 (.pdf)

Strengthened restrictive practice requirements for residential aged care facilities

Minimising the use of restrictive practices

Independent review of legislative provisions governing the use of restraint in residential aged care (.pdf)