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Guidance and Resources - Standard 7 (PDF, 386.28 KB)
Consumer outcome
(1) I get quality care and services when I need them from people who are knowledgeable, capable and caring.
Organisation statement
(2) The organisation has a workforce that is sufficient, and is skilled and qualified to provide safe, respectful and quality care and services.
Requirements
Click on the links below each Requirement to view the Guidance material, including:
- Intent of the Requirement
- Reflective questions
- Examples of actions and evidence
(3) The organisation demonstrates the following:
(a) The workforce is planned to enable, and the number and mix of members of the workforce deployed enables, the delivery and management of safe and quality care and services.
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(b) Workforce interactions with consumers are kind, caring and respectful of each consumer’s identity, culture and diversity.
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(c) The workforce is competent and members of the workforce have the qualifications and knowledge to effectively perform their roles.
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(d) The workforce is recruited, trained, equipped and supported to deliver the outcomes required by these standards.
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(e) Regular assessment, monitoring and review of the performance of each member of the workforce.
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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 Quality Standards.
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 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:
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understand the requirement
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apply the requirement, and this is clear in the way they provide care and services
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monitor how they are applying the requirement and the outcomes they achieve
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review outcomes and adjust their practices based on these reviews to keep improving.
Linked Standards
Standard 7 supports all of the other Quality Standards. This is because it supports how the organisation focuses on workforce planning to demonstrate it has the capacity to run the organisation and deliver safe, effective and quality care and services, in a safe comfortable environment. It requires the organisation to support the workforce to deliver the outcomes required by these Standards.
Relevant legislation
- Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth), User Rights Amendment (Charter of Aged Care Rights) Principles 2019
- Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)
- Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)
- Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)
- State and Territory anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation
Resources and references
