Up and running or left behind?

The role of supporters is facilitative. Unlike legal representatives, supporters do not have the authority to make decisions. 

Allowed actions include:

1. Requesting, accessing, or receiving information or documents on the individual's behalf;
2. Communicating the individual’s will, preferences, and decisions;
3. Undertaking other actions on behalf of the individual, excluding making decisions.

• Ensure you have documented the supporters for each consumer and understand their roles.
• Update policies to capture the role of supporters, distinguishing these stakeholders from those appointed as decision makers (Attorney and Guardian).
• Educate staff to raise awareness. 

• Ensure Behaviour Support Plans are comprehensive and individualised for each consumer.
• Be able to demonstrate the use of any restrictive practice is a last resort, including documentation that reflects all other non-pharmacological strategies have been exhausted.

• Update suitability screening of key personnel (now responsible persons) to include the person responsible for the overall management of the nursing service of each home. 

• Revise resident agreements and address segregation of HELF, which must now be documented in a separate agreement, and the introduction of the 2% RAD retention.
   
• Ensure the new resident agreement incorporates all terminology updates required, such as the new names and acronyms for various fees.
• Incorporate as annexures documents required to be provided, such as the Residential Care Services List, the HELF Fact Sheet and the Statement of Rights.  

• While ESS-approved benchmark services must continue to be provided for existing residents after July 1, no new residents can be admitted under ESS. 

See our:

• HELF Readiness Checklist

• Ideally, have implemented an accommodation pricing strategy and ongoing review process. We recommend one that considers affordability, facility attractiveness and financial return to the provider.

• The changes to consumer charges have the potential to create confusion with staff, residents and their representatives.
• If you are not ready to implement HELF, be aware that this may create possible points of conflict with grandfathered residents on ESS and AS programs

• Dependent on the date of expiry, develop a Renewal Assessment Plan. 

• Ensure your printed marketing material is updated to reflect the new fees, charges structure and terminology of the new Aged Care Act, including any new pricing.

• Ensure your website and MyAgedCare reflect new pricing and disclosure requirements around services.

• The new ACT prioritises the provider rather than the facility. This has numerous implications.
• Check the provider register to ensure you have the right registrations (6 in all). 

• Update Liquidity Management Strategy as appropriate to reflect mandatory levels and provider-specific situations.
• Forecast cash flows to identify risk of future noncompliance.

• Ensure compliance with Permitted Use Rules and guidelines related party arrangements.

• With the elimination of allocated places, ensure your statement accurately reflects your assets.

• The impact of the 2% retention on how people pay for accommodation is unknown. Scenario analysis of this potential impact, together with the impact of AS, ESS, HELF and the 2% retention, will ensure there are no shocks as the changes play out.
• Ensure billing systems are tested for the new billing requirements and service range.

• Understand the implications of your current classification: surveillance, targeted, active, heightened.

• Respite residents who were admitted prior to the availability of the resident agreement, effective July 1, may need to be provided with information around the terms and agreements both prior to and post July 1, in particular any fee differences such as AS/ ESS/ HELF and RADs.

• The Department and Quality Commission expect providers to comply with the draft Rules until they are reviewed and finalised by the new minister.

• Create an education plan that supports staff knowledge of the changes as they relate to their roles, and the transition plans you have in place.