Delving into Standard 3: The Care and Services
The Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards are designed to ensure that older Australians receive the highest quality of care, with the individual's needs at the very heart of service delivery. Standard 3 is dedicated to 'The care and services' and describes how providers must engage with older people to deliver high-quality, person-centred support. It moves beyond just meeting basic needs to ensuring care is based on best practice and truly optimizes an individual’s health and well-being. This standard works in tandem with Standard 1, 'The individual,' which emphasises dignity, respect, and choice.
The Four Core Outcomes of Strengthened Standard 3
Under the Strengthened Quality Standards, Standard 3 is broken down into four key outcomes that guide provider responsibilities and ensure accountability.
- Outcome 3.1: Assessment and planning. This ensures that care and service plans are based on a thorough understanding of an older person’s needs, goals, and preferences. It focuses on collaborating with the individual and their support network to create a tailored and effective plan.
- Outcome 3.2: Delivery of care and services. This outcome demands that providers deliver all care and services in a way that is consistent with evidence-based best practice. The services must be culturally safe, trauma-aware, and actively promote the person's quality of life and independence.
- Outcome 3.3: Communicating for safety and quality. This addresses the need for effective communication. Providers must ensure information is clearly communicated with the older person, between workers, and with anyone else involved in the individual's care. This includes timely communication regarding changes in condition, risks, or any deterioration.
- Outcome 3.4: Coordination of care and services. This requires providers to facilitate and coordinate planned care and services, especially when multiple health and aged care providers are involved. The goal is to ensure a seamless and integrated care experience for the older person.
Practical Application: How Providers Meet Standard 3
To meet the high expectations of Standard 3, aged care providers must implement robust systems and foster a strong culture of quality care. This involves a range of actions that prioritise the consumer's experience and outcomes.
- Person-centred approach: Providers must work with consumers and their representatives to understand their specific needs, goals, and preferences. This ensures care is not one-size-fits-all but genuinely personalised.
- Risk management: High-impact or high-prevalence risks, such as falls, pressure injuries, or medication incidents, must be effectively managed. Providers need clear policies, procedures, and staff training to mitigate these risks.
- Feedback mechanisms: Regularly seeking feedback from consumers and their families is crucial for understanding care experiences and identifying areas for improvement. This feedback loop is essential for continuous quality enhancement.
- Workforce competency: The standard requires a workforce with the right mix of skills, qualifications, and knowledge to deliver safe and effective care. This includes appropriate training and development, particularly for complex needs like dementia.
- Effective communication: Systems must be in place to ensure critical information is passed on reliably and promptly between all care team members and the consumer. This prevents errors and ensures continuity of care.
- Review and improvement: Providers must regularly review and evaluate their care practices based on consumer feedback and audit results. This commitment to continuous improvement is a core aspect of meeting the standard.
Comparing Aged Care Quality Standards: Before and After Reform
With the upcoming changes to the Quality Standards, it's helpful to understand how the new Standard 3 refines and strengthens previous requirements. The new framework places a stronger, rights-based focus on the consumer.
| Feature | Original Standard 3: Personal Care and Clinical Care | Strengthened Standard 3: The Care and Services |
|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | Safe and effective personal and clinical care, tailored to needs | Safe, effective, and personalised care and services, supporting independence and quality of life |
| Scope | Covered personal care (e.g., showering) and clinical care (e.g., nursing) | Expands to all funded aged care services, with a stronger emphasis on person-centred care |
| Key Elements | Focused on individual assessment, risk management, and end-of-life care | Explicitly covers assessment and planning, delivery, communication, and coordination of care |
| Emphasis on Dignity | Linked to Standard 1, but Standard 3 itself focused on the physical care aspect | Directly linked to supporting independence, quality of life, and promoting consumer autonomy |
| Rights-based | Implicit, but the new framework explicitly focuses on a rights-based approach to care | Integral part of a new rights-based framework under the Aged Care Act 2024 |
Conclusion: The Importance of Standard 3
Standard 3 is crucial for ensuring that the personal and clinical care older people receive is of the highest quality. It shifts the focus from a purely medical model to a holistic, person-centred approach that respects individual needs, goals, and preferences. By requiring providers to deliver evidence-based care, manage risks effectively, and maintain open communication, the standard promotes not only safety but also the overall well-being and dignity of aged care consumers. As the sector moves forward with the Strengthened Standards, Standard 3 will be a key driver for continuous improvement and a better quality of life for all.
For more detailed information on the specific requirements and expectations for providers, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission offers comprehensive guidance resources: Provider Guidance for Strengthened Quality Standard 3.
