Draft provider obligations, new quality standards available
An updated draft on the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards has been released by the Department of Health and Aged Care, alongside Stage 3 of the new Aged Care Rules.
As indicated, the Department of Health and Aged Care has released Stage 3 of the Aged Care Rules, relating to provider obligations, and has released an updated version of the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, watermarked as draft. Both were made available on 14 February.
The new Aged Care Rules
The department is publishing the new rules in stages, and the release of the provider obligations and the strengthened quality standards marks Stage 3 of the release.
Stage 3 also covers the conditions on registration of registered providers under Chapter 3 of the new Act, including:
- existing provider obligations such as the Aged Care Code of Conduct, restrictive practices and strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
- new requirements including rights and principles
- reporting and recordkeeping requirements
Stage 3 of the release also outlines some of the changes made between the Rules and the published strengthened quality standards, such as:
- changes to the language used in the standards
- minor wording changes to make requirements for providers clearer in the rules
- removing duplication
- different numbering of the outcomes in the rules
- stronger emphasis on the role of workers
These changes do not introduce new obligations for providers, instead they aim to highlight the importance of the provider supporting aged care workers to deliver safe and quality care.
The release includes a supporting document to help understand this stage of the rules and should be read with the new Act and its Explanatory Memorandum and the draft Rules released in Stage 3.
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Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards
The strengthened quality standards released this month aligns with wording used in the new Aged Care Act 2024 and reflect the new Statement of Rights. The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards draft outlines the following seven standards:
- the person
- the organisation
- care and services
- the environment
- clinical care
- food and nutrition
- the residential community
The intent of standard one is to underpin how providers and aged care workers are expected to treat older people and is relevant to all other standards. It reflects the importance of concepts such as dignity and respect, individuality and diversity, independence, choice and control, culturally safe care and the dignity of risk.
Standard two sets out the expectations of the governing body to meet the requirements of the quality standards, as it is the governing body who sets the strategic priorities and who must promote a culture of safety and quality. It is also responsible for driving and monitoring improvements to funded aged care services. Proposed changes have been made to this standard, as outlined in the Aged Care Rules Release 3 Supporting Information.
Standard three focuses on how providers deliver funded aged care services, for all types of services. It involves effective assessment and planning, communication and coordination, and is closely linked to standard two – relying on a strong and reliable workforce to deliver quality funded aged care services.
Standard four relates to ensuring older people receive funded aged care services in a safe and supportive physical environment. This includes effective infection prevention and control measures.
Standard five describes the responsibilities of providers to deliver safe and quality clinical services to older people. The responsibility of ensuring a clinical governance framework is implemented is on the governing body. The responsibility of ensuring the clinical governance framework’s effectiveness is monitored is also on the governing body. The clinical care standard also outlines the expectation that clinical services provided should always be person-centred, inclusive, safe, effective and coordinated.
Standard six covers the expectations relating to access to nutritious food. Access to nutritious food is a fundamental human right and access to desired food and dining can have a huge impact on a person’s quality of life. As older people can lose their appetite from illness or ageing it becomes particularly important that providers actively engage with clients on how they would prefer to eat and drink, supporting older people to consume as much as they want and exercise dignity of risk. Standard six is intended to apply only to residential care homes.
Standard seven is also intended to apply only to residential aged care homes and relates to assuring new residents in care homes are made to feel part of the community. It is important that residents’ culture is celebrated and respected, and that residents are encouraged to engage in community activities.
The new quality standards will come into effect on 1 July with the new Aged Care Act and the new regulatory model.
The complete draft Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards can be found here.
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