Implementing the Standards

The The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and underlying audit methodology (how they will be assessed) are part of a broader revision to the overall regulatory model being introduced with the new Aged Care Act, slated for 1 July 2024.

The Enforceable Element

There are 7 Strengthened Aged Care standards, 34 outcomes and 152 actions in total across all standards. There are 4 key elements that comprise the structure of each standard: An intent, an expectation statement of the older person, outcomes and actions. Outcomes are the enforceable element. They are what providers will be assessed against, thus they sit at the core structure of each standard.

Responding to the New Standards

In this video, Zoe Youl explains how exactly outcomes will be used to grade the provider against the strengthened Quality Standards. She details the new process by which auditors will determine conformance at the Outcome level and a simple approach for L&D teams to incorporate outcomes into their practice.

References and Resources

1. The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards – Final draft
2. Aged Care Quality Standards: Standard 5 – Clinical Care
3. Draft audit methodology
4. Draft evidence framework
5. Draft pre-audit preparation tool
6. Glossary
7. Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety Final Report: Care, Dignity and Respect
8. Australian Government Response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
9. Aged Care Bill 2023 Exposure draft
10. New Aged Care Act: Defining high-quality care
11. Supporting Sector Readiness for the New Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (Webinar)

Author

Zoe Youl 

Zoe Youl has over ten years of experience at Ausmed. With expertise in Critical Care Nursing, Clinical Governance and Education, she has built an in-depth understanding of the educational and regulatory needs of the Australian healthcare sector.