Happy New (Financial) Year!
Like many providers, we were busy with the EOFY rush of reports, budgeting, and responding to quotes, especially for training and auditing with organisations looking to utilise 23-24 funds. Hence the newsletter is a little late this month but it's jam-packed with essential information (including aged care reports due or coming up).
It’s also NAIDOC week this week (7th–14th July) and many, including First Nations older people will be participating in or hosting events at centres and care homes around the country. The theme this year is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud. For more information and resources visit the NAIDOC site.
Here's this month's Roundup for Busy People!
Donna
Content Summary
Latest CDCS Videos & Blog Posts
To respond to the needs of those working in the industry, CDCS has a range of blog posts on our website and videos that are freely available on our YouTube channel.
Who Are Your Vulnerable Clients?
It is a requirement for all Home Care Providers to create and maintain a list of vulnerable clients, those who are particularly at risk should there be an adverse event personally or through a natural disaster or at times of climate events. If you know who these people are you are better able to plan or action a response to minimise risk to them.
Industry News
All Sector Updates
SIRS Incident Impact Assessment Tool
The ACQ&SC has developed an Impact Assessment Tool to help providers identify whether an incident has, or could reasonably be expected to have, caused an older person receiving care, physical or psychological harm and/or discomfort.
This is a useful tool to include in education sessions or to post on your staff room wall.
Guide for Consumer Advisory Bodies
Consumer Advisory Bodies are intended to help improve the quality of care for all older people receiving care through their provider by providing feedback on key issues impacting clients or residents. To help the participants of these bodies understand what they should be reviewing or discussing during meetings the ACQ&SC have developed a ‘Meeting Discussion Guide’.
Legislation Updates
Single Assessment System for Aged Care
On the 1st July 2024 the first stage of the Single Assessment System for Aged Care was introduced. The aim of the system is to simplify the intake process for older people seeking aged care services.
This first stage introduces the new ‘Integrated Assessment Tool’ (IAT). This tool is designed to be used for all assessment types and limit the amount of times a person needs to retell their story.
From late 2024, ACAT, RAS and AN-ACC workforces will transition into the Single Assessment Workforce to deliver the Single Assessment System.
Reports Due
Quality Indicator Reporting – Residential Care
The fourth quarter Quality Indicator (QI) data is due by the 21st July. Residential providers must submit via the GPMS.
Templates and resources to support collection and uploading can be found on the Department of Health website.
CHSP Wellness and Reablement Report
Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers can now complete their 2024 Wellness and Reablement Report via the Citizen Space Portal.
CHSP providers must complete the report by 31 July to meet their mandatory reporting requirements.
For questions, please contact your CHSP Funding Arrangement Manager or email wellnessandreablement@health.gov.au.
June Quarterly Financial Report 2024
The online forms portal is now open to submit the June Quarterly Financial Report (QFR). This covers quarter four, from April to June 2024.
The report must be submitted by the 4th August 2024. More information is available on the Department website.
Aged Care Financial Report 2024
The Aged Care Financial Report (ACFR) covering the period from July 2023 – June 2024 is due on the 31st October 2024.
Residential providers will also need to submit their Annual Prudential Compliance Statement as part of their ACFR.
Aged Care Financial Reports Calendar 2025
Financial reports rely on relevant information being collected and collated over an identified period of time. Financial reports must be signed off by either a key personnel, Director or Governing body member (depending on the type of entity) prior to submitting to the portal.
To help providers, the ACQ&SC have released a calendar that can be printed out and given to your financial officer so they are prepared and sufficient time is allowed to have the report reviewed and signed off.
COVID Updates
Commission Reminders
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has written to all residential provider Board Chairs to remind them of their organisation’s responsibilities to ensure that infection prevention and control measures (including access to vaccination and anti-virals) are in place. This move has arisen from a concern around the falling COVID-19 vaccination rate in residential aged care facilities.
The Commission has emphasised that it is being proactive in holding providers accountable for supporting the safety and well-being of residents around this issue and is conducting unannounced visits to facilities with low vaccination rates.
Residential Aged Care During COVID
Managers, staff, family, friends and residents must work together to protect older people in aged care homes from COVID-19. Find information for aged care residents and visitors on how to keep everyone safe in residential aged care.
Home Care Updates
CHSP Manual Update
The Department of Health and Aged Care regularly reviews and updates the CHSP Manual to ensure currency. Each time the manual is updated there are additional examples or extra information that clarifies sections better.
CHSP providers should review the July 2024 changes to the manual by reading through the ‘Summary of Changes’ or downloading the full manual, and adjusting their program advertising material, policies and procedures and other relevant documents as required.
Residential Care Updates
Changes to the RN Supplement
From 1 July 2024, there are changes to how providers report on 24/7 RN coverage and to the RN supplement.
This includes changes to the reporting functions on the GPMS and an increase in the minimum RN coverage threshold to 87.5%, or more than 21 hours a day, to be able to receive the full 24/7 RN supplement.
Care Time Reporting Assessment Model Pack
Care time reporting assessments check the accuracy of care minutes and 24/7 RN information reported by residential aged care facilities.
The Department of Health and Aged Care has developed a guide to help providers when submitting information and documents.
Funding for Onsite Pharmacists
From 1st July 2024, community pharmacies can access funding for credentialed pharmacists to be placed on-site in residential aged care homes.
Residential aged care providers will also be able to engage pharmacists to review medications and meet regularly with residents, their families and carers. The pharmacists will work closely with medical practitioners and aged care home staff.
Responding to and Preventing Sexual Assault in residential aged care
An estimated 50 sexual assaults take place in residential aged care in Australia every week. Older people also experience sexual assault in their own homes. The trauma they experience is compounded by the lack of education for service providers.
The #ReadyToListen project developed by OPAN aims to build the skills and capacity of residential aged care service providers to better respond to – and prevent – sexual assault in residential aged care.
Reading
Want to understand more about what consumers are complaining about with home care services?
The Commission has recently released a report on this topic.
You can also watch the Commission’s webinar on this topic ‘Getting Complaints Right’ which can be found on their YouTube channel.
Department and Commission Newsletter Links
If you haven't subscribed for Department updates, you can do so by clicking here to subscribe.
If you’re not already signed up, we recommend clicking through and signing up for the Commission’s valuable newsletter.
CDCS Roundup for Busy People Newsletter
If you have others in your team who would benefit from our monthly aged care roundup for busy people – they can sign up here.
Industry Training, Webinars & Events
A new regulatory strategy for aged care
Registrations are now open for this webinar hosted by the ACQ&SC. It will introduce the Commission’s new draft Regulatory Strategy. The webinar is designed to help providers and workers understand what the Commission expects of them and how it will engage with them under the new model.
Date: Tuesday 16th July 2024
Time: 2pm AEST | 1:30pm ACST | Noon AWST
Register here >>
The Strengthened Quality Standards in practice
The Commission is running a new workshop on the Strengthened Quality Standards. This workshop is aimed at those providers (residential) who will need to respond to Standards 4-6, ‘The Environment’, ‘Clinical Care’ and ‘Food and Nutrition’.
Ongoing workshops provided by the ACQ&SC
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission develops a range of educational resources and workshops for aged care providers, in-home services and residential services that assist in understanding what compliance looks like.
You can find these courses listed on the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s website under the Education tab.
Funding Opportunities
Grant Reference
Name of Grant
Closing Date
For more information on any of these grants, refer to the GrantConnect website.
SDAP – Services Development Assistance Panel
Don’t forget, if you are an aged care provider (residential or community care) operating in rural or remote locations, you may be eligible for support through the Service Development Assistance Panel (SDAP).
CDCS has been a panel member since the inception of this program in 2010 and has supported over 40 aged care services with compliance, business development, training and resource development.
Get an idea of what can be done with SDAP.
Further information is available on the Department’s website, including the application form, or by emailing sdap@health.gov.au.
Jobs in Aged Care
Position
Organisation & Location
Closing Date
Ramingining – East Arnhem Regional Council
Until filled
Galiwinku – East Arnhem Regional Council
Until filled
Various – East Arnhem Regional Council
Until filled
Alice Springs/Hermannsburg / Areyonga – Macdonnell Regional Council
Until filled
NOTE: If you have a position that you would like us to promote, please hit ‘reply’ to this email so we can include it in the next newsletter and/or post on our Facebook page: CDCS – Culturally Directed Care Solutions.
New In The TQP Members Resource Area
You’ll find a full list of the updated policies, procedures and other helpful resources that have been updated in the last month below. We're committed to helping your organisation meet compliance and deliver quality outcomes.
If you don't have access to the TQP and you’re looking for comprehensive, industry-specific policies, procedures and work instructions that have been used successfully by dozens of aged care providers, helping them to easily pass quality reviews and stay compliant, then take a look at the Total Quality Package.
Resource updates in the last month
Governance Policies & Procedures
Conflict of Interest V2 – new
TQP Live Training & Replays
TQP Members get complimentary access to regular LIVE training and education sessions. These are aimed at the coordination and management level and address trending issues and topics. Recordings are available in the TQP to revisit whenever you need – just like having your very own ‘Aged Care Netflix!’ 😁
We hope you have found this edition helpful; feel free to share it with others who may be interested. If you have any feedback or questions, please let us know by emailing us at info@cdcs.com.au.
Please get in contact with us if you need support and we’ll catch up with you again next month.
Donna, Carrie & the CDCS Team
- October 2024 - October 10, 2024
- September 2024 - September 10, 2024
- August 2024 - August 13, 2024
