In this issue:
• 2019 ACFA Annual Report now available
• New approved provider application forms are now available
• New Charter of Aged Care Rights resources
• Resources to promote aged care advocacy services
Home Care:
• New home care pricing requirements now in place
Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP):
• Managing your CHSP service information in My Aged Care
• Outcomes of the 2018 CHSP Wellness and Reablement Report
Read more:
Today the Morrison Government has delivered a major reform package for quality and safety in aged care.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck said these comprehensive reforms are designed to protect and improve the lives of senior Australians in care.
The Government demonstrates our commitment to continue to improve the aged care system while the Royal Commission proceeds.
“Senior Australians must have choice and flexibility in the care they receive and it should be really easy to understand what they can expect from their aged care service. This is why our Government has delivered these new Aged Care Quality Standards,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Today is the first upgrade to residential aged care standards in 20 years. The new Standards will improve transparency for senior Australians and their families, as well as making regulation clearer for providers.
“The Standards are centred on the needs of senior Australians and provide a solid foundation for providers’ continuous improvement.”
Read more:
Delivering safety and quality in Australia’s aged care system
Today marks the commencement of the new national Aged Care Quality Standards which apply to all aged care settings including residential and in-home aged care services.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson PSM said the new standards raise the bar by strengthening the focus on consumer-centred care which respects the dignity and identity of the individual and seeks to improve their experiences and outcomes of care.
“The new standards require aged care providers to work with each of their consumers to ensure that they receive safe, quality care that is shaped by the consumer’s needs, goals and preferences,” she said.
“The new standards are an important step in aged care reform which will help providers to clarify their responsibilities and help consumers to know what they can expect from aged care services.
“The new standards were developed following extensive consultation with consumers, service providers, experts and the wider community.”
Ms Anderson said she was impressed by the commitment shown by aged care providers in their preparation for the introduction of the new standards, and that support from the Commission will continue after 1 July.
Read more:
Commission media release: New Aged Care Standards Aiming to Lift Performance Across the Sector
The 2018-19 Budget More Choices for a Longer Life package gave in-principle support to move from allocating residential aged care places through the Aged Care Approvals Round to an alternative model that supports greater consumer choice.
A discussion paper outlining two proposed alternative models for allocating residential aged care places is now available for feedback. Suggestions for other allocation models that encourage consumer choice and promote a more consumer driven market in residential aged care are also welcome.
Read more:
Have your say on proposed alternative models for allocating residential aged care places
Consultation Hub: Residential aged care: Proposed alternative models for allocating places
Eventbrite: Consultation forums – Residential care: Alternative place allocation models
Welcome to this special edition of the Newsletter with information about the changes that take effect from, 01 July 2019, including:
• My Aged Care website
• New Charter of Aged Care Rights
• New Aged Care Quality Standards
• National Mandatory Aged Care Quality Indicator Program
• Improvements to home care pricing information
• Reductions to the maximum basic daily fee
• Regulation of physical and chemical restraint in aged care
Read more:
Information for Aged Care Providers – Special Edition 01 July 2019 (.pdf)
A document detailing a new Aged Care Open Disclosure Framework and Guidance is now available on the Commission’s website.
Open disclosure is the open discussion that an aged care provider has with people receiving aged care services when something goes wrong that has harmed or had the potential to cause harm to a person receiving aged care service.
The open disclosure document is in two parts:
• Part A describes when open disclosure should be used, principles, elements and case studies of open disclosure, organisational enablers to promote open disclosure and the requirements of the Aged Care Quality Standards, while
• Part B provides practical guidance to support providers to practice open disclosure.
Open disclosure is a requirement under the new Aged Care Quality Standards, which contain two specific references to this process:
• Standard 6: Feedback and Complaints – this requires providers to use an open disclosure process when things go wrong.
• Standard 8: Organisational Governance – where clinical care is provided, organisations are required to have a Clinical Governance Framework which includes open disclosure.
Read more:
From 1 July 2019 all Commonwealth subsidised residential aged care providers are required to comply with the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program as outlined in the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Quality Indicator Program) Principles 2019.
New manual
A new National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program manual is available on the department’s website and includes:
• definitions for each quality indicator
• data collection methods
• submission requirements.
Data collection
The first quality indicator data collection period is 1 July 2019 to 30 September 2019. Data is due to the department by 21 October 2019.
Read more:
Webinar: National Aged Care Quality Indicator Program
National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program Manual 1.0 (.pdf)
Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Quality Indicator Program) Principles 2019
The Commission and Department of Health have released resources to support consumers understand the Charter.
Consumers have the option of signing the Charter of Aged Care Rights (the Charter). Consumers can receive care and services even if they choose not to sign.
If a Consumer decides to sign the Charter, they are acknowledging that their provider has given them a copy of the Charter, and assisted them to understand:
• information about consumer rights in relation to the aged care service; and
• information about consumer rights under the Charter.
Read more:
Charter of Aged Care Rights A5 booklet (.pdf)
Charter of Aged Care Rights poster (.pdf)
Charter of Aged Care Rights Template for Signing (.pdf)
Charter of Aged Care Rights Template for Signing – translated versions
Charter of Care Recipients’ Rights and Responsibilities – Residential Care
Charter of Care Recipients’ Rights and Responsibilities – Home Care
Amendments have been made to the Quality of Care Principles 2014 to minimise the use of chemical and physical restraints in residential care settings, and to include specific requirements of aged care providers in relation to their use.
Under the amended Principles, a restraint is defined as “any practice, device or action that interferes with a consumer’s ability to make a decision or restricts a consumer’s free movement.”
Where physical or chemical restraints are used, approved providers must meet a number of conditions.
An approved provider must not use any restraint unless:
• the consumer has been appropriately assessed as requiring that restraint;
• alternatives to restraint have been explored;
• informed consent to use restraint has been obtained from the consumer or their representative; and
• relevant documents are maintained to demonstrate these conditions have been met.
Read more:
New legislation introduced to minimise the use of restraints
Quality of Care Amendment (Minimising the Use of Restraints) Principles 2019
Minimising the use of restraints
Self-assessment tool for recording consumers receiving psychotropic medications (.docx)
The Commission begins monitoring and assessing provider performance against the Aged Care Quality Standards from 1 July.
The Commission has recently released a new Regulatory Bulletin on their website which explains how they will respond to identified areas for improvement and non-compliance with the new Standards.
The Commission’s response to non-compliance is proportionate to the level of assessed risk and the potential consequences of that risk for consumers.
Read more:
Regulatory Bulletin: Responding to non-compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards (.pdf)
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