It is widely known that the aged care workforce is at crisis point. It seems that with the new Australian National Aged Care Classification funding model (AN-ACC), which took effect on 1 October 2022 will add some pressure to the diminishing allied health staff from the sector.
Allied health used to be incentivised to be provided under the previous ACFI (Aged care financial instrument) from 2008 to 1st October 2022. There is no separate inbuilt incentivised funding for allied health in the AN-ACC starting October 1st.
Although the Government are saying nursing homes should fund allied health still and not cut levels at all. Providers however are reassessing this. Aged Care service providers will need to consider a new operational framework, workforce planning, and maintaining and improving quality of care outcomes.
So what is the impact on the workforce? Workforce planning will require changes and restructures to operational teams. For example, the old staffing models that residential aged care operators had in place, such as ACFI teams and coordinators, and funding teams, will have to be changed to more effectively align with AN-ACC.
There will also be a need for tightly coordinated organisation learning and development across all levels, from front-line staff through to Senior management teams. All material, instructions, funding guides and documentation will need to be developed for employees and resident communications, with providers needing to plan for their employees to be re-trained.
Learn about the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) care funding model and how it will work from 1 October 2022 here
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