Resident agreements for Multi-Purpose Services (MPS)
You must offer people receiving aged care from an MPS a resident agreement. You need to include certain details, provide a copy to the person, and make sure they understand and agree to it. Review and update the agreement as needed.
Charter of Aged Care Rights
As an MPS provider, you are responsible to help your clients understand the Charter of Aged Care Rights.
You need to:
- give your clients a copy that you've signed
- help them to understand it
- make sure your clients, or their representatives, have an opportunity to sign the charter
What is a resident agreement?
A resident agreement is a legal agreement between a person receiving residential, residential respite or home care and your Multi-Purpose Service (MPS).
The resident agreement must be written in plain language and easy to understand.
It sets out the:
- care and services you will provide
- fees to be paid
- the person’s rights
What to include
It should state that a resident has a right to occupy a place in your MPS. Their right to a place begins on the day the agreement takes effect and continues until the end of either:
- the period set out in the agreement
- the resident’s life
The agreement should also include:
Details of people and services
Make sure you include:
- resident details
- your provider details
- the date you will start providing services
- the levels of care and services you will provide
Fees, charges and payments information
You should include:
- any fees the resident may be asked to pay
- a copy of your policies and practices used to set fees, charges and payments
- what happens if a resident doesn’t pay fees, charges or payments
Other details
Other details that should be included are:
- why you may ask the resident to leave and how you will help the resident find alternative accommodation if you ask them to leave
- how you deal with complaints
- any other matters agreed between you and the resident, within the requirements of the Aged Care Act 1997
When to provide a resident agreement
You should provide a resident agreement to a resident before or not long after they move in.
Reviewing and updating resident agreements
You must review and update the resident agreement if:
- their care needs change
- your costs change
- they ask you to
This should be part of your ongoing care discussions with the person.
You must provide a copy of the updated agreement to the resident as soon as possible after finalising it.
Full requirements
For legislated requirements on completing resident agreements see:
- Division 59 of the Aged Care Act 1997
- Division 4 of the User Rights Principles 2014