Protecting Older Australians - Daily COVID-19 Update 3 April

Published 6th April 2020

OUTBREAK MANAGEMENT

The Department of Health’s guide to outbreak management is available online. This resource outlines how to identify if there is an outbreak at your facility and the steps to take to manage the outbreak.

To determine an outbreak, apply the “two in three” rule. An outbreak is considered to have started if 2 people in 3 days become sick with the symptoms and at least one of these has a positive test for COVID-19. While this is a guideline, the state/territory public health unit will assist in deciding whether to declare an outbreak.

Download the information sheet here.

Further expansion of CHSP Flexibility Provisions 

CHSP providers have already been given full flexibility to allocate up to 100% of their existing funds in 2019-20 and 2020-21 between the different service types they deliver so that emerging client needs can be met.  These provisions have now been expanded to allow providers to re-allocate funding across the Aged Care Planning Regions (ACPRs) in which they operate on a time-limited basis.  Any reallocation of funds between ACPRs should be done cautiously and only on the following basis:

1. Providers must retain the ability to return to their current regional footprint post the COVID-19 crisis.

2. Providers must not leave a service gap in an area they are operating in – i.e. resources may only be reallocated out of a region where there is a clear drop in the need for the service (e.g. group social support).

3. Providers seeking to reallocate funds to a different region should make all efforts to ensure existing service providers in the area are not already ramping up to meet the perceived need (speak with your FAM and other providers in the area).

4. Providers may still only allocate resources to services they are funded to deliver.

CHSP providers are only expected to use these relaxed flexibility provisions to support time limited care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and funding agreements will not be amended to reflect the changed service mix.

Resources

Training modules

Seven modules are available for completion as part of the Department of Health’s eLearning program for Aged Care workers. The training includes Personal Safety, Families and Visitors, Outbreak Management and PPE.

Click here to register and access the training modules.

Source:
Unknown Author, 2020, Department of Health