Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Ken Wyatt says the Single Aged Care Quality Framework legislation will intensify quality compliance across residential, home and remote care –the first upgrade of standards in 20 years.
“Aged care providers’ governing bodies and boards will be legally accountable for safety and quality … with providers having to prove their care and services are safe, effective and customer-centred,” he said,
The draft Aged Care Quality Standards are based on eight standards:
- Client dignity and choice
- Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
- Personal and clinical care
- Services and supports for daily living
- The provider’s service environment
- Feedback and complaints
- Human resources
- Governance
Each standard also includes a statement of outcome for the client, a statement of expectation for the organisation – and requirements to show that the standard has been met.
“The standards will protect people by placing them at the centre of care in a competitive, market-based system,” Mr Wyatt said, [and] “herald a new era in certainty and confidence in Australian aged care.”
The new standards, which have been co-designed with the aged care sector for several years, are due to start 1 July 2019 – with all the onus on the sector to demonstrate they are being upheld.
