8/12/2019 Newsletter - January 2019 | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/newsletter-2019-1#welcome to the new commission 1/6 Newsletter - January 2019 Read the rst issue of the Aged Care Quality Bulletin, the Commission's monthly newsletter for Australian aged care providers. Issue #1, January 2019 On this page: Welcome to the new Commission New Rules to support the work of the Commission Standards events lling fast – don’t miss out! Checking your readiness for the new Standards Transitional rules for the new standards New Qassist module Use of restraints in aged care New Standards: Dignity of Risk Why complaints are important Welcome to the new Commission
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8/12/2019 Newsletter - January 2019 | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/newsletter-2019-1#welcome to the new commission 1/6
Newsletter - January 2019Read the �rst issue of the Aged Care Quality Bulletin, the Commission's monthly newsletter for
Australian aged care providers.
Issue #1, January 2019
On this page:
Welcome to the new Commission
New Rules to support the work of the Commission
Standards events �lling fast – don’t miss out!
Checking your readiness for the new Standards
Transitional rules for the new standards
New Qassist module
Use of restraints in aged care
New Standards: Dignity of Risk
Why complaints are important
Welcome to the new Commission
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Welcome to the �rst monthly newsletter for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
As part of the broader reforms occurring in the aged care sector, the Commission of�ciallyopened its doors at the beginning of January, providing a single point of contact for aged careconcerns and queries.
The Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, noted at the time that, “Withthe motto ‘Engage, Empower and Safeguard’, the Commission �ags a new beginning for agedcare quality and safety.”
As the inaugural Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, I am excited to be leading thisimportant reform, and I look forward to engaging with you and providing updates each month.
This edition of the newsletter contains information on the new legislation and Rules, the newQuality Standards and some areas of particular interest, and the important complaintsresolution function of the Commission.
If you have not done so already, you may wish to visit our new website (agedcarequality.gov.au)which includes details on aged care consumer rights, advocacy services to support seniorAustralians, Consumer Experience Reports about individual aged care services, access to auditreports, a complaints portal and new Standards resources.
I look forward to meeting with providers, consumers and the broader community, as we workcollaboratively to protect and enhance the safety, health, well-being and quality of life ofpeople receiving aged care.
Ms Janet Anderson PSMCommissioner
New Rules to support the work of theCommissionThe Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 supports greater consistency in ourregulatory process, and improved responsiveness to instances of poor care and servicedelivery. The new Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018 apply to all aged careservices subsidised by the Australian Government.
Both these new legislative instruments came into effect 1 January 2019. The Act outlines thenew Commission’s role and functions, and the Rules give operational effect to theCommission’s processes. The new Rules replace the Principles applied to the former QualityAgency and Complaints Commissioner.
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We encourage you to familiarise yourself with these changes and take note of how they mayimpact on your service. The Commission will be providing further information to the sector onthe processes under the new Rules over the coming months.
View key changes here.
Standards events �lling fast – don’t miss out!
Update: These events have now sold out.
Is your aged care service ready for the introduction of the new Aged Care Quality Standardsfrom 1 July 2019?
Our program of “Preparing for the new Standards” events kick off from 14 February in WA, withan event to be held in each state. Each one-day event has been designed to provide practicalsupport to aged care providers through this transition period.
The program will support providers to consider how the new Standards will in�uence theirpractices, consider ways to enhance their consumer focus, measure and evaluate activitiesagainst the new Standards and identify opportunities for improvement and innovation.
During the event, our Commissioner, Janet Anderson will address delegates and provideinformation about the functions of the new Commission. She will also outline arrangements fortransition to the new Aged Care Quality Standards.
Events are �lling up quickly, so be sure to reserve your place. If you have missed out, keep aneye out for our standalone workshops which will open for registration soon.
Checking your readiness for the new StandardsThe Commission has launched a new Self-Assessment Guidance Tool to assist providers ofCommonwealth subsidised aged care services to understand and self-assess their performanceagainst the new Aged Care Quality Standards commencing 1 July 2019.
The self-assessment template and guidance was developed in consultation with stakeholdersand has been tested with aged care service providers. The new Self-Assessment Guidance Toolwill replace existing guidance on self-assessment once the new Standards come into effect.
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You are not required to submit self-assessment information against the new Aged Care QualityStandards prior to 1 July 2019, however all providers are encouraged to use this useful resourcein preparation for the introduction of the new Standards.
The usual arrangements for submission of self-assessment information with your re-accreditation application will apply with the new Standards once they take effect.
Access the new Self-Assessment Standards Guidance Tool.
Transitional rules for the new standards
The Department of Health, in consultation with the Commission, is currently preparingtransitional rules for the implementation of the new Standards from 1 July 2019. Commissionreminder notices for reaccreditation will provide details on the application of the newStandards, and transitional arrangements will soon be available on the Commission andDepartment of Health websites.
New Qassist module
We have also published a new Qassist module - Getting to Know the Standards for aged carestaff. The resource encourages staff to discuss and re�ect on how their role supports theorganisation to demonstrate performance against the new Standards.
Use of restraints in aged careThe Commission has recently sharpened its focus on the use of restraints in residential agedcare, and providers can now expect that they will be speci�cally asked about restrictivepractices during monitoring visits.
At unannounced assessment visits, providers will be asked how many residents at the serviceare currently receiving psychotropic medications and how many are physically restrained. Thisis in order to better understand whether these measures are being used in accordance withbest practice.
Commissioner Janet Anderson said: “As the national regulator, the Aged Care Quality and SafetyCommission responds quickly to identi�ed issues and concerns and welcomes contact fromanyone concerned about their loved ones in aged care services.
“My assessment teams are looking for evidence such as the presence of informed consent fromthe consumer or a properly authorised person. We want to see that the service is applying bestpractice in matters such as effective clinical governance, regular review by health professionals,
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pharmacists, and communication with the general practitioner or geriatrician, and that recordsare kept of the outcome of these reviews.”
The Commission requires all residential aged care services to demonstrate that alternativestrategies are used to manage challenging behaviours, and where restraints are required, thatthey are consistent with best practice guidance.
In response to recent concerns, Minister Wyatt has also issued a statement underscoring theclose attention being given to this matter.
View updated questions for Assessment Contacts.
View Ministerial announcement.
View Commission announcement.
New Standards: Dignity of RiskThe new Aged Care Quality Standards require providers to effectively manage risks associatedwith the care of consumers. This means managing the boundary between risks to a consumer'ssafety, health or well-being, and their right to make decisions about their care.
In managing risks, it is useful for organisations to think about how cultures, systems andprocesses can protect us against risks, investigate risk management options, encourageconsumers to be a partner in decisions (including those with communication and cognitivedif�culties), and provide options for care with �exibility in areas such a scheduling andphysical environment.
It's important for organisations to recognise that risk management in care is not a one-size-�ts-all approach.
Standard 1 questions to consider:
What tools does my organisation use to understand and manage risks in a way thatsupports a consumer's dignity, autonomy and choice?
How is this recorded in their care plan?
How does my organisation support the workforce to respect a consumer's choices?
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Why complaints are importantThe majority of service providers do their best to provide quality care and services, howeverissues can occur and people need to be able to raise their concerns in a constructive andsupported way.
Complaints are important to help providers continuously improve their quality of care andservices. We encourage people to raise concerns with the provider �rst, which can help achievea faster and sustainable resolution quickly. If the issue is not resolved, or people feeluncomfortable about raising their concern directly, we are ready to assist.
All information received in the management of a complaint is risk assessed and may beprovided to our Quality Assessors to use during a monitoring visit. If we have concerns aboutthe safety, health or well-being of aged care recipients, this will prompt an urgent visit to thefacility.
Anyone can raise a concern with us about the quality of care or service provided. This includespeople receiving care, family members and friends, advocates, staff and volunteers. We arehere to help, and no complaint is too big or too small.
Complaints can be made openly, con�dentially or anonymously through our website or bycalling 1800 951 822. Find out more or request an information session for aged care staff via:[email protected].
Changed: Friday, 15 March 2019 - 4:29pm
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