There are lots of similarities between Aged Care and Disability Care. In October 2022, a proposed revision to the Aged Care Quality Standards was released for public consultation. If history is any indication, we expect this version to be close to the final product. For those in NDIS-only markets, this also serves as a potential indicator of future changes in our sector.
The full report is available here, but below are some key takeaways from our review.
1. Eight Standards become seven
The coverage is the same but the standards have been streamlined against an ‘entity’ instead of specific topics.
New Aged Care Standard | Current Aged Care Standard | NDIS Practice Standards |
1 The Person | 1 Consumer dignity and choice | 1 Rights and responsibilities |
2 The Organisation | 2 Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers | 2 Provider governance and operational management |
3 The Care and Services | 3 Personal care and clinical care | 3 Provision of supports |
4 The Environment | 4 Services and supports for daily living | 4 Provision of supports environment |
5 Clinical Care | 5 Organisation’s service environment | SM1 High intensity daily personal activities |
6 Food and Nutrition | 6 Feedback and complaints | SM2 Specialist behaviour supports |
7 The Residential Community | 7 Human resources | SM2A Implementing behaviour support plans |
| 8 Organisational governance | SM3 Early childhood supports |
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| SM4 Specialist support co-ordination |
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| SM5 Specialist disability accommodation |
2. Food and Nutrition as a standalone standard
This is interesting from its tie into the Quality Indicator program that Residential Aged Care providers are part of. Unplanned weight loss is something providers need to report on every quarter. This information is benchmarked and helps providers improve aspects of their services.
3. Removal of ‘Human Services’ at the top level
It’s now covered within Standard 2 ‘The Organisation’, 2.8 Workforce Planning, 2.9 Human Resource Management.
4. Perspective
The standards now feature more content written from the consumer/participant’s perspective. E.g. “I can contribute to improvements to care and services” and “My provider and workers listen and respond to my feedback and concerns”.
5. No change to the Quality Indicator (QI) program.
A mandatory program of data collection from Residential Aged Care providers. The extension of the QI program from 5 to 11 indicators in April 2023 has not been impacted by the change to the quality standards. The more important question for NDIS service providers is; will there be potential to have a similar data collection program in the new future?
