National Standards
Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module
The Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module is designed to support eligible Multi-Purpose Services to improve aged care delivery. With a focus on quality and compliance, it's designed to simplify meeting NSQHS Standards while improving resident outcomes.
About the Module
The Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) Aged Care Module is designed to support multi-purpose services in delivering high-quality care to older Australians, especially in rural and remote communities. By aligning with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, this Module provides a structured approach to improving the safety, quality, and consistency of aged care services.
Purpose of the MPS Aged Care Module
The MPS Aged Care Module offers practical guidance to ensure older Australians receive the safest, highest-quality care possible. It focuses on meeting the unique challenges of multi-purpose services and ensuring aged care services meet the NSQHS Standards. The Module assists teams in:
- Delivering person-centred care
- Ensuring compliance with NSQHS Standards
- Identifying opportunities for improvement in aged care delivery
- Strengthening processes and practices in aged care settings.
Who is the Module for?
This Module is specifically designed for Multi-Purpose Services (MPS). MPS provide integrated services that may include acute, emergency, sub-acute, community, primary care and aged care services for small regional and remote communities.
MPS enable services to exist in regions that may not be able to viably support stand-alone hospitals, residential, respite and home based aged care services.
Resources available
The module includes the following resources to support your team:
Assessor orientation course
This course is designed to introduce assessors to the purpose and applicability of the MPS Aged Care Module and User Guide. Completing this educational update is mandatory for all assessors involved in evaluating MPS according to the NSQHS Standards and the MPS Aged Care Module.
Eligibility
To be eligible to be assessed against the NSQHS Standards and MPS Aged Care Module, an MPS must be recognised by the Australian Government Department of Health as part of the MPS program.
Eligible MPS are now able to be accredited to the NSQHS Standards and the MPS Aged Care Module using a streamlined assessment process under the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme.
Accreditation assessments
As part of contractual arrangements with the Australian Government Department of Health, eligible MPS are now required to be assessed to the MPS Aged Care Module at the time of their next scheduled assessment to the NSQHS Standards.
From 1 May 2021, eligible MPS assessed to the MPS Aged Care Module will have the outcomes of the six actions counted towards their accreditation assessment outcome.
MPS should confirm with their approved accrediting agency the date for their next scheduled assessment to the MPS Aged Care Module.
The Commission recommends that eligible MPS commence a gap analysis to the actions in the MPS Aged Care Module now, and commence implementation of strategies to address gaps in a timely way.
Background
The Multi-Purpose Services Program is a joint initiative of the Australian Government and state and territory governments. MPS provide integrated services to consumers that may include acute, emergency, sub-acute, community, primary care and aged care services for small regional and remote communities. MPS enable services to exist in regions that may not be able to viably support stand-alone hospitals, residential, respite and home based aged care services.
MPS delivering acute and sub-acute health services must be accredited to the NSQHS Standards, whilst MPS providing aged care services must also be accredited to the Aged Care Quality Standards.
The Australian Government Department of Health has agreed MPS completing the NSQHS Standards and MPS Aged Care Module do not need to be assessed separately against the Aged Care Quality Standards, thereby reducing compliance burdens for MPS providing Commonwealth-subsidised aged-care services.
Contact Information
For more information or support, contact the Safety and Quality Advice Centre.