Standard 7. Human resources

Purpose and scope of the Standard

This standard requires an organisation to have and use a skilled and qualified workforce, sufficient to deliver and manage safe, respectful, and quality care and services, which meet the Aged Care Quality Standards, 2018.

This Standard includes four key concepts:

• The sufficiency of the workforce – Organisations providing care and services are expected to have enough skilled and qualified staff to meet consumers’ needs. Organisations are responsible for using Australian Government funding to make sure they have the staff numbers and mix of skills needed to provide consumers with quality care.

• The attributes, attitude and performance of the workforce – The workforce need the right skills, qualifications and knowledge. They are expected to be able to do their job effectively and be able to communicate and build positive relationships with consumers. A focus on consumer-centred care encourages the right interactions with consumers to find their strengths and understand their goals.

• Organisational support for the workforce – Organisations should respect their workforce for their diverse skills and qualities. They need to support them to deliver the outcomes the Aged Care Quality Standards describe. Organisational support means that the service gives the workforce the time and the tools needed to deliver quality care to consumers every day.

• Assessment, monitoring and review – To meet this Standard, an organisation needs to regularly assess, monitor and review its workforce through an effective human resources system. This includes the workforce makeup, suitability and performance. This is vital to delivering safe, respectful and quality care and services that meet consumers’ needs and preferences.

Other than noting that compliance by organisations will be required, this Standard does not consider work health and safety or areas of human resources that deal with in other Acts, legislation or codes.

Assessment against this Standard

For each of the requirements, organisations need to demonstrate that they: