The first trial considers how to apply the 24/7 registered nurse obligations in the MPSP.
The second considers how to provide assurance that residents in an MPS have access to sufficient levels of direct care. This follows the implementation of care minutes requirements in mainstream residential care homes.
Trial of the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility
The first stage of the 24/7 registered nurse trial is now complete and phase two is underway. Phase one demonstrated that almost all Multi-Purpose Service (MPS) are already meeting the requirements in place for mainstream residential care homes.
Governments and MPS providers are now working together to consider how to implement ongoing reporting requirements.
Formal implementation will follow on a date to be agreed by the Government and the States and Territories. In the meantime, trial arrangements will continue.
Trial for direct care targets
Phase 2 consists of two steps, the first is a trial of AN-ACC assessments in MPS to identify direct care targets. 16 of the MPS trial sites are participating with residents receiving an AN-ACC assessment using the current mainstream Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) assessment process. Following the trial, this information we will be used to determine what care targets would be required in a residential care setting.
The second step is a time-in-motion study. All trial sites will participate in the study, which will identify how much time staff spend in the health and aged care sections within the MPS.
The trial is the first step to determining what obligations need to be introduced in the MPSP. For more information about the trials, please email mpsreforms@health.gov.au.