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AGED CARE AND COMMUNITY CARE

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NSW Context

Aged and community care services in NSW includes the provision of services to older people living at home or in a residential aged care facility.   For a skilled and competent workforce, the CHC30208 Certificate III in Aged Care is the appropriate entry level qualification in NSW.
                                                                                   

Community care provision includes:

  • Community Aged Care Packages – are coordinated package of community care services to assist a person who have complex care needs                    
  • Community Options – a case management service for clients whose needs cannot be met by mainstream HACC services. Clients may be people who have complex care needs including a range of interacting physical/medical, social and emotional needs and thus require a comprehensive assessment and case management.
  • Extended Aged Care in the Home – are coordinated packages to assist a person who has complex care needs and requires care equivalent to those provided in a high care residential facility.
  • Extended Aged Care in the Home (Dementia) - are coordinated packages to assist a person who has dementia, complex care needs and requires care equivalent to those provided in a high care residential facility.
  • National Respite for Carers - designed to support and assist relatives and friends caring at home for people who are unable to care for themselves because of chronic illness, disability or frailty through the provision of respite services, information services and counselling.
  • Centre Based Day Care - provides structured group activities designed to develop, maintain or support the capacity for independent living and social interaction, which are conducted in a day centre setting. Centre-based day care also includes group excursions/activities conducted by centre staff but held away from the centre.
  • HACC - jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State governments to provide services that support people living at home who are at risk of premature entry to residential care. The services offered include domestic services, personal care, community transport, respite services, dementia services, MOW, home & garden maintenance, social support programs
  • Home Care – provided domestic assistance, personal care and respite for people with a disability, older people and their carers to enable them to live independently in their own home.
  • Transitional Care - a package of services including low intensity therapy, personal and/or nursing care in the home for up to 12 weeks following an acute episode to hospital.

 

Residential aged care services are funded by the Commonwealth Government, along with resident contributions and are subject to Commonwealth, State/Territory and Local Government regulations. The two types of residential aged care facilities are hostels (low care) and nursing homes (high care). Many facilities offer 'ageing-in-place' which enables older people to continue to live in the facility as their needs change.

The aged and community care sectors are underpinned by the following key legislation:

  • Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Principles 1999
  • Commonwealth/State Disability Agreement (1991)
  • NSW Disability Services Act (DSA) (1993)
  • Home and Community Care Act 1985 (HACC) and Amending Agreement 1998
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and Occupational Health Regulations 2001
  • NSW Industrial Relations Act 1986
  • NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977
  • Public Health Act 1991
  • Mental Health Act 1990
  • Health Records & Information Privacy Act 2002
  • Guardianship Act 1987

 

The fundamental areas for the aged and community care sector include:

  • Medication Management

Medication management is a key area of importance in both the aged and community care sector and it is essential that people are aware that medications are poisons and should be treated with absolute care at all times. Whilst the competency Assist clients with medications (CHCCS305A) is an elective for each of the Certificate III and IV courses the industry would strongly encourage the completion of this competency as one of the chosen electives.

 

The key legislation for medications is the NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 and Regulations 2002 and in residential aged care the APAC Guidelines for Medication Management in Residential Aged Care Facilities should also be referred to. See NSW Health

 

  • Compulsory Reporting in Residential Aged Care

Under amendments to the Aged Care Act 1997 (the Act) in July 2007, approved providers of residential aged care must report allegations or suspicions of unlawful sexual contact, or unreasonable use of force, on a resident living in an Australian Government subsidised aged care home. Workers must also be aware of their responsibility for reporting and the mechanisms available to protect their identity should they do so.

  • Police Checks

 

Staff, contractors and volunteers who have, or are likely to have, unsupervised access to residents living in an aged care facility must undergo a national criminal history record check, which must be renewed every three years.

For further information see Fact Sheet Police Check Guidelines

 

Changes to OH&S

The Commonwealth and each state and territory government have agreed to harmonise their work health and safety laws, including Regulations and Codes of Practice, so that they are similar in each jurisdiction.

The Commonwealth, states and territories are responsible for making and enforcing their own work health and safety laws. Although there are many similarities between the laws there are also some differences that can cause confusion. Australian workers should be entitled to the same work health and safety standards, regardless of the jurisdiction in which they operate.

This regulatory inconsistency is being addressed through an intergovernmental agreement(IGA) where, for the first time, governments from each state and territory and the Commonwealth have formally committed to harmonise work health and safety laws by developing and adopting a model Work Health and Safety Act supported by model Regulations and model Codes of Practice. The intention is to deliver the same work health and safety protections to all Australians.  For more information click here

 

 

Qualifications and Pathways

CHC30208          Certificate III in Aged Care

CHC40108          Certificate IV in Aged Care

CHC30308          Certificate III in Home and Community Care

CHC40208          Certificate IV in Home and Community Care

 

Recognition

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a significant pathway for candidates to attain a national training package qualification.  There has been strong support from Commonwealth and NSW governments for RTOs to find innovative and accessible RPL strategies and approaches. 

NSW Department of Education and Training is actively assisting this quest for improved RPL pathways and has worked in partnership across many industry sectors to pilot best practice models of recognition and develop supporting resources.   Some of the innovation recognition pathways trialled included group, project and workplace based models. 

Resources and further details are available at State Training Services

 

 

Traineeships

The Vocational Training Board establishes traineeships in NSW.  Through a consultative process between peak industry groups, employers and unions, facilitated by the ITAB, qualifications are identified that meet industry requirements and have appropriate award arrangements.  This information is submitted to the Board for the declaration of a vocational training order in accordance with NSW legislation.

 As qualifications have a vocational training order established, they are posted on the NSW DET Commissioners Bulletin.  Further advice is available from NSW DET  www.training.nsw.gov.au

 

Current Aged Care traineeships in NSW are:

 

 

CHC30208        Certificate III in Aged Care

CHC40108        Certificate IV in Aged Care

 

CHC30308        Certificate III in Home and Community Care

NOTE:  The Human Services Curriculum Framework includes provision for school-based trainees to gain unit credit towards the HSC for the school-based formal training component of their traineeship.  See VET in Schools section below.

 

Advice from NSW DET Commissioners Bulletin 425

 

 

Supervision and on-the-job training in Home and Community Care traineeships

 

 

 

Industry Capability

Employers considering the establishment of traineeships in CIII in Home and Community Care (CHC30308) for their employees must ensure they are able to implement and support such a training program. There must be a commitment from employers to provide appropriate on-the-job training and supervision. The means by which this support is provided can be customised to take account of working arrangements in this industry.

Home and Community Care Workplace Environment

A home and community care (HACC) workplace environment is characterised by persons working predominantly without direct supervision. HACC workers provide personal care, domestic duties and respite care to clients in their home, as well as support services outside the home such as taking clients shopping and to appointments. Workers’ clients include older people, people with disability and people in need of individual care and support. The job role of a home and community care worker requires travel between clients’ homes on a daily basis.

Employer Capability Assessment

Employers considering a traineeship pathway for their HACC workers must demonstrate how they will meet their obligation under s13(a) of the A&T ACT “to enable ... the trainee to receive the work-based component of the required training”. Before lodging a training application for approval, they must develop a model of supervision and on-the-job training that includes that:

  • nominates a person or persons with the appropriate skills and experience to supervise the HACC  trainee and facilitate their on-the-job training at clients’ homes;
  • ensures that the level of workplace supervision is sufficient to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the trainee; 
  • outlines arrangements that are in place to monitor (at the worksite) the trainee’s progress in gaining skills across the full range of competencies required for the relevant qualification, as specified in the Vocational Training Order;
  • specifies arrangements for the supervisor to provide feedback to the trainee, and to answer any questions they have about this progress;
  • requires the workplace supervisor to liaise with the registered training organisation (RTO) regarding the development and implementation of the training plan and the trainee’s progress

It is also important that supervision and on-the-job training arrangements take into account the capability of the HACC trainee - their proficiency and level of knowledge and skills. Where trainees are competent in particular tasks and roles and do not require supervision, employers should ask the RTO to formalise these arrangements through competency assessment.

Approval and monitoring of HACC traineeships

All applications for HACC traineeships lodged with State Training Services for approval must have a supervision and on-the-job training model in place that meets these minimum requirements. State Training Services officers may seek formal evidence of this supervision model or visit the workplace to assess whether these requirements are in place before approval and as part of their ongoing monitoring procedures.

 

 

VET in Schools

The CHC30208 Certificate III in Aged Care qualification in the CHC08 Community Services Training Package has been identified as suitable for VET in Schools pathways.

For more information about VET in Schools in NSW visit: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschools/

The NSW Board of Studies is responsible for the inclusion of training package qualifications in the HSC studies. Further information is available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au .

 

Human Services Curriculum Framework

Industry curriculum frameworks provide high school students with the opportunity to gain industry-recognised national vocational qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as part of their NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC).


Industry curriculum frameworks include an optional HSC examination which eligible students may elect to undertake. Students who choose to sit the HSC examination can have the results of the examination count towards their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

The qualifications available in the Human Services Curriculum Framework are:
• Certificate III in Aged Care (CHC30208)
• Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance (HLT32407)
• Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT32507)

There are 2 programs in the Human Services Curriculum Framework, a 360 hour course or 240 hour course. If undertaking the Certificate III in Aged Care pathway in the Human Services Curriculum Framework students must complete mandatory work placement for a minimum of 105 hours (for 360 hour course) or 70 hours (for the 240 hour course).

 

Details and all documentation are available on the Board’s website at http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/human-services.html

 

 

Peak Bodies and Key Stakeholders

Aged & Community Services Assn NSW&ACT

The Aged and Community Services Association of NSW & ACT Inc (ACS) is a registered industrial organisation of employers who are aged and community care providers in the non-profit, charitable sector. The ACS is a representative organisation. It represents members' views politically at a Commonwealth and State level, either directly in its own right or indirectly via Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA).

 

NSW Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care

The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care is one of the largest human services organisations in NSW. They provide support and services to more than 1 million older people, people with disabilities and their carers in NSW.

NSW Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing

The NSW Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing is the official advisory body to the NSW Government on matters of interest to older people. The Committee provides advice to Government, conducts consultations and seminars and publishes discussion papers on ageing issues.

Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency

Agency manages the residential aged care accreditation process using the Accreditation Standards. The Agency fulfils its functions using processes and principles set down in legislation, notably the Aged Care Act 1997, the Accountability Principles 1998, and the Accreditation Grant Principles 1999.

Guardianship Tribunal - The Guardianship Tribunal is a legal tribunal that conducts hearings throughout New South Wales. Its primary role is to make guardianship and financial management orders for people aged 16 years and over with decision-making disabilities.

Working Carers Support Gateway

The Working Carer's Support Gateway project is a new service initiative developed by the Disability and Aged Information Service Inc. (DAISI), based in Lismore on the far north coast of NSW. NSW Health is a partner under its Carer’s Program. The primary aim of the Gateway project is to provide information and support to low income and isolated carers in NSW who are juggling both caring and workplace demands.

Aged Care Association NSW

The Association represents aged care the private, church, charitable, and community sectors.

 

 

Resources

 

NSW Community Services and Health ITAB resources include:

 

Certificate III in Aged Care Work- Recognition Training Program

This training program is designed for nursing assistants, personal assistants and care support employees who are working in the aged care setting. This may include residential aged care settings or community settings. The training program only targets nursing assistants, personal assistants and care support employees who are already in the workforce.

 

 

The resource includes:

1.    Individual Participant Support Materials 

2.    Trainer Support Materials

Registered Training Organisations wishing to provide this recognition pathway may obtain the resources from NSW Community Services and Health ITAB

www.csh-itab.com.au 

 

 

NSW Community Services and Health ITAB and NSW DET resources include:

 

Recognition Model and Resources

For Certificate III and IV Aged Care and Certificate III and Certificate IV Home and Community Care are available from https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/training_providers/resources/skillsonline/index.html 

 

 

Oral Health in Aged Care- Free e-learning resource

This online training resource has been developed by NSW Dental Assistants' (Professional) Assn in partnership with NSW Community Services and Health Industry Training Advisory Body. 

The Oral Health in Aged Care online training resource focuses primarily on the knowledge and skills needed by an aged care worker to support aged care residents with daily best practice oral health care and management.  It is available free at www.workplaceskills.com.au

For aged care workers who are working toward achieving the CHC30208 Certificate III in Aged Care, the learning in this resource will contribute to achievement of CHCICS301A Provide support to meet personal care needs.

 

NSW Community Services and Health ITAB and Board of Studies resource:

 

This free e-resource provides information for secondary students to make informed choice about working in community services and health industries. It will help make the decision about whether to take up a HSC VET program in community services and health, what work placement is needed and where to get more information..

Access the e-reource from the icon on Community Services and Health ITAB website

or click here: http://www.csh-itab.com.au/schoolpathways/

 

Please contact NSW Community Services and Health ITAB regarding training and assessment resource needs for the qualifications or skills sets in this industry sector.

 

Other resources may be available from industry peaks, Registered Training Organisations and Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council.

 

 

 


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