Too hot in the home care kitchen? The Federal Government is promoting outright competition between providers as a way to drive up quality and encourage innovation. But will it succeed?

Consumer Directed Care (CDC) in Home Care Packages has introduced an unprecedented level of care recipient service choice. Consumer control of Home Care funds will take this process much further, with two additional stages of major change:

• Consumer control of funds from February 2017

• Integration of Home Support into Home Care from July 2018

Proposed changes

By February 2017:

• Funds will be controlled by consumers

• Consumers will choose their Approved Provider

• Consumers can move between providers

• Packages will be allocated from a national priority list of eligible consumers

• Unoccupied packages will lapse to the national pool

• ACATs will assess to specific care levels (1, 2, 3 or 4)

• My Aged Care will manage the entire process

• Existing clients will be free to change providers

• Regional level planning and allocation will be abandoned

Regions will no longer have an identified allocation of

care packages. It will become a matter of whether/when consumers make it to the national priority list, as to how many places are available locally. For example, there are regions/areas with relatively high numbers of places allocated now that will have fewer packages in the future. Of course the opposite may apply too. In some parts of Australia, packages are hard to fill, while in other areas, people regularly wait 12 to 18 months and may never get the home care they need. The changes are intended to provide equality of access throughout Australia.

What won’t change

Existing requirements for quality care, user rights and accountability will not change. This is reassuring. Numbers of packages will continue to be capped via the nationally applied continuation of aged care planning ratios (per 1,000 people 70+).

Implications for providers

The implications are massive. There will be no guarantee of ongoing levels of future income for Home Care services after February 2017. Every provider must re-examine their entire business model in an environment where profile, attractiveness of offerings and value for money will be front and centre. The following will be critical success factors:

• Skilled, consumer responsive and consistent staff

• Well tuned and well communicated service offerings

• Flexible service provision

• Value for money and low overheads

• Detailed demographic and market knowledge

• Facilitation of (well managed) brokerage for non-standard services

• Technology enabled efficiencies

• Advanced quality and performance systems

This is an abridged extract from an article by Brian Sullivan, published in the November 2015 issue of Community Care Review magazine. For the full article, visit www.verso.com.au

FOCUS Newsletter of Verso Consulting

Summer 2016

Sneak peek! Verso’s CMS is coming in 2016

Your exclusive first look!

Here is your first look at our newest ICT product: the Verso Client Management System (CMS) for home care. We’ve taken the traditional CMS and given it a complete reworking from top to toe.

Key features include:

• Seamless alignment with The Carers’ Phone telecare monitoring service

• Validation of service delivery linked to individualised care plans and CDC budgets

• Person-centred staff rostering based on care plan goals and the client’s special needs

• Secure rostering linked to police checks, staff qualifications and competencies

• Capacity for self-management by consumers/family carers aligned to CDC goals

• Aligns with our wiki-based Quality Management System with search engine functionality reflecting the Home Care Standards

For more information, contact Matthew Purtell on 0402 484 850 or email m@verso.com.au

News Flash: At the Forefront of Reforms

Home care changesIn November 2015, Verso MD Doug Faircloth, along with Prompt Care MD Matthew Purtell, presented at the LASA Victoria Community & Home Care Seminar on upcoming changes to Home Care Packages Program.

Australia’s radical move to ‘consumer purchase’ of home care was explored in the context of international care systems. Technology’s role in forming a successful strategy to adapt to these changes was also examined.

A world first

Verso is pleased to be working with a highly respected Victorian provider of child protection services to develop a world-first client monitoring system.

The system includes an app for mobile devices that can be used by child protection carers to provide updates on the progress and effect of the services.

These regular observations will enable outcomes for children and young people in care to be consistently measured for the first time in this sector.

For more information, email Doug Faircloth at doug@verso.com.au

Seeking your input!Verso was recently awarded a major change project by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to support system change to reduce the incidence of Aboriginal children being removed from their families and to support better reunification outcomes where the child has been placed outside their family.

The project will involve grassroots consultation with:

• Aboriginal organisations

• Aboriginal communities

• Aboriginal caregivers

• Mainstream organisations supporting Aboriginal families and services.

We are seeking broad input into this project during January and February 2016. A web based survey is available and we invite your contribution.

For more information, email Jodie McNair at jodie@verso.com.au

More on our websiteLearn about our recent evaluation of a unique tool designed to combat the challenges of social isolation for older people living at home alone.

Australia vs the world

Brian Sullivan compares international aged care systems

For all the heat Australia’s aged care reforms have received, how do they compare to the systems in the UK, USA, Canada or the Netherlands?

In the UK, government-subsidised care is only available to a financially disadvantaged cohort. There is no universal access, no national system (instead run by local government) and provider proliferation (over 22,000). A national quality agency publishes inspections online.

In the USA, there is little evidence of leading practice - respite is described as an innovation! Aged care is not a national system and not generally government subsidised - except as welfare. Aged care is essentially self funded for most.

In Canada, there is no national system – each province is different, with only 4 of 11 provinces operating under legislated regulation. “Home care” terminology covers all client groups, with a high emphasis on integration with health.

In the Netherlands, aged care operates under a contributory national insurance system (compulsory), with insurers awarding local contracts for care. New “care entrepreneurs” have been encouraged and have brought innovation, but there is little evidence of consumer choice.

The conclusion? There is no obvious parallel to Australia’s nationally regulated and funded system. We have a unique and advanced national system that is not welfare based, and a sound funding growth foundation (ratios and package subsidy indexation).

We are a leader in consumer control, but fragmentation and disconnection with health care are major risks. Our separate aged and disability home care systems are a rarity.

CDC Workshop: The Second Wave of Change

Special offer for Northern and Western Melbourne

This workshop uses an intimate learning model to enhance consumer-focused practice for support workers, coordinators and case managers. You will feel more confident to respond to the ongoing challenges of CDC.

Unlike earlier CDC workshops, this intensive learning experience takes an in-depth view of consumer directed practice, engaging support workers in a team approach. We limit numbers to ensure each attendee gets maximum benefits.

Venue: Prompt Care Resource Centre, 109 Fergie Street, Fitzroy North, Victoria

Date & time: Thursday 3 March 2016, 9:30am to 2:00pm

Full Cost: $245 per person (inc GST) - Includes refreshments and lunch

Special offer: A reduced fee ($60 inc GST) is available for all staff in home care services operating in the Northern or Western Metropolitan Regions of Victoria

Register now: RSVP by 12 February 2016 to Mollie on 0407 093 355 or email mollie@promptcare.com.au

Prefer an on-site workshop for your team? We can arrange a time and fee to suit your needs. Call or email Mollie at the details above for a quote.

This workshop is an exclusive collaboration between Verso Consulting, The Carers’ Phone and Prompt Care. Future workshops are planned for Adelaide and Hobart later in 2016.

Verso Consulting

Mail: PO Box 412, Clifton Hill VIC 3068

Telephone: +61 3 9489 3233

Facsimile: +61 3 9489 3244

Email: courtney@verso.com.au

Website: www.verso.com.au

Short-Term Restorative Care Programme Expert Support for a Competitive Submission

Tel: 1800 983 776www.verso.com.au

Victoria | New South Wales | Tasmania | Northern Territory | Queensland | South Australia | Western Australia

Your funding application starts here Details

The introduction of the Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme was announced in the 2015 Federal Government Budget to increase care options for older people and improve their capacity to stay independent in their homes. This is a new short-term form of care created within the flexible care funding stream under the Aged Care Act 1997.

Stage 1: Data Gathering & Service FrameworkWe will provide support to gather the information needed to complete your competitive and compliant STRC application.

• Clarify your approved provider status and key personnel credentials

• Identify target areas/regions for a new STRC service

• Develop a feasible STRC Service Framework for delivery by your organisation

• Develop a timed care pathway to ensure continuity and viable occupancy levels

• Consider past record in relevant services and programs

• Collect evidence of accreditation and/or quality reporting

• Document suitable referral linkages and collaborations

• Frame up a service start-up plan

Stage 2: Draft ApplicationOn announcement of the STRC round in February 2016, the Verso team transfers relevant information from Stage 1 on to the STRC application form.

Stage 3: STRC Application for LodgementFeedback and additional information will be included to develop a final draft application.

This stage delivers lodgement ready application forms.

Are you eligible for this funding round?Options being considered are:

• Approved providers of flexible care

• Approved providers of flexible care who must also be approved to provide residential and/or home care

More information about the STRC Programme is available at www.verso.com.au

TimeframesStage 1 Jan - Feb 2016

Stage 2 Feb - Mar 2016

Stage 3 To be confirmed

Note: Round commencement expected Feb 2016 with six-week turnaround as in previous ACARs. (To be confirmed)

Fees (ex GST) • Stage 1 & 2: $12,200

• Stage 3: $5,100

Interstate travel may incur additional charges.

Places are very limited!Call Mollie on 0407 093 355 or email mollie@verso.com.au

First of four funding rounds expected Feb 2016