Frequently Asked Questions
Information for Home Care Package providers
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What does CDC mean for my organisation?
The introduction of Consumer Directed Care (CDC) brings with it a new way of looking at
your business and the way you provide your aged care service.
CDC will give older people greater control over their care by allowing them to make choices
regarding the types of care and services they receive and the delivery of those services.
CDC provides the opportunity for providers to work in partnership with the consumer to
ensure that:
• the consumer has choice and flexibility when selecting their care and services
• the consumer is supported by the provider in their decision-making process
• services provided are responsive to the consumer’s customs, sexual orientation,
circumstances and background, including their relationship with carers and family
members
• the consumer remains as independent as possible, including having support through
restorative (including wellness and re-ablement) opportunities
• the consumer is able to continue to participate in the community should that be their
desire.;
• care plans and individualised budgets are co-produced with the consumer; and
• consumers receive individualised income and expenses statement to the consumer.
What do I need to do to prepare for CDC
CDC provides an opportunity to consider how your organisation delivers services. It will
involve reviewing the following key elements:
•
•
•
organisational culture - understanding the culture change required to implement CDC
and reorientate service delivery where consumers including care recipients and their
carers can choose and control the services they receive.
Staff training - training staff to understand the philosophy of CDC to ensure they are
skilled in undertaking conversations with consumers that encourages empowers
them.
Administrative systems - have administrative systems that can provide consumers
with an individualised budget and monthly income and expenses statement.
What does co-production mean for my organisation?
The introduction of CDC on 1 July 2015 will enable providers to enhance the relationship
with the consumer through the co-production of their care plan.
Understanding what the consumer wants and aspires to achieve is the key to developing and
delivering services which will work best for them.
During your discussion with the consumer and/or their families, representative or carer, you
will need to discuss the level of involvement the consumer would like to have in managing
their package. Some consumers may wish that the provider continues to fully manage their
package while other consumers may want to have more involvement.
Providers will also be able to talk about what the consumer’s care and service needs are and
how these can be provided. This could be through in-house or through existing brokerage
arrangements. The consumer’s choices should not be limited to a list of services or service
providers. As additional costs may be involved when setting up brokerage arrangements,
providers should make these additional costs clear to the consumer prior to them agreeing to
these services.
Once providers have worked through the care and services the consumer requires, and the
agreed level of involvement they would like to have in managing their package, this
information will need to be recorded in the consumer’s care plan and individualised budget. It
is important that the care and services identified in the care plan fit within the available
budget for the package level. If not, further negotiations will be required between the provider
and the consumer. Any fee for services charged over and above the package level should be
discussed with the consumer and made clear that this is not part of the Home Care Package.
Providers will also need to continue ongoing monitoring of the package and a formal reassessment of the package at least once every 12 months to ensure it remains appropriate
for the consumers as their needs change.
What if I am unable to provide the services the consumer is requesting?
Services can be provided directly by the provider, sub-contracted to another service provider
(individual or organisation), or brokered through another organisation within the limits of the
services and resources available.
However, there are some services that cannot be purchased using package funds. For more
information on excluded items, please refer to schedule 3, part 2 – excluded items, of the
Quality of Care Principles 2014.
How can I help my consumer transition to CDC?
Research shows that older Australians generally want to remain independent and in control
of how and where they live; be connected and relevant to their families and communities;
and be able to exercise some measure of choice over their care.
CDC provides this choice through a flexible approach that allows older Australians to remain
in their homes, as well as exercising more choice, more control and easier access to a full
range of services. .
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As part of the care planning process, discussions with the consumer should cover the level
of involvement they would like to have in managing their package. Their level of involvement
could range from a high level of involvement, particularly in areas such as care co-ordination
and administration, to very little or no active involvement in the management of the package.
The level of consumer involvement and control that has been agreed should be documented
in the consumer’s care plan. This may vary over time as the consumer’s needs change. Any
changes to the level of consumer involvement and control must also be documented in the
care plan.
What should an individualised budget and/or individualised monthly
statement include?
The individualised budget is a proposed budget for the consumer’s package (broken down
by income and planned expenditure) which is developed in partnership between you and the
consumer based on the agreed care plan. The budget should be in a format that is simple to
understand.
Providers will also need to supply the consumer with a monthly statement of income and
expenditure in a format that enables them to understand where funds have been expended,
as well as the balance of available funds.
Any unexpended funds, including contingency funds, must carry over for as long as the
consumer continues to receive care under your care.
What happens to a provider that hasn’t converted to CDC by 1 July 2015?
Delivering Home Care Packages on a CDC basis is currently a condition of allocation for
approximately 13,500 home care places. As part of the aged care reforms on 1 July 2015,
the remaining home care places will convert to a CDC model of care.
The Department will monitor implementation of CDC through the Quality Agency reviews.
Should providers fail to meet the CDC home care standards the Quality Agency will work
with providers in a continuous improvement framework.
Where do I go if I want more information about CDC and Home Care
Packages?
homecaretoday – Information for
home care providers and
consumers about the delivery of
Home Care Packages on a
Consumer Directed Care basis.
Call COTA Australia on 03 9909 7910
Email at [email protected]
Visit the Home Care Today website at:
www.homecaretoday.org.au/
Finding a home care provider and
basic information about home care
packages
My Aged Care website under the Help at Home page
on My Aged Care at: www.myagedcare.gov.au or
phone free call on 1800 200 422.
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Payments information for
providers
Contact DHS by emailing
[email protected] or call the
provider support team on 1800 195 206
Aged Care Law
Visit the Guide to Aged Care Law at:
http://guides.dss.gov.au/guide-aged-care-law
Home Care Packages Programme
Policy for consumers and home
care providers
Home care providers and consumers can enquire about
Home Care Packages Programme policy by emailing
[email protected]
Home Care Packages Programme
Operations Manual 2015
The Operations Manual is available at:
https://www.dss.gov.au/ageing-and-aged-careprograms-services/home-care-packages-operationalmanual
The Schedule of Subsidies and Supplements is
available at:
https://www.dss.gov.au/our-responsibilities/ageing-andaged-care/aged-care-funding/aged-care-subsidies-andsupplements
Call 1800 288 025 to speak to someone at your local
office.
Australian Government home care
subsidies and supplements
Aged Care Quality Agency
The Aged Care Complaints
Commissioner.
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The Aged Care Complaints Commissioner can be
contacted directly on freecall
1800 550 552 (calls made from mobile phones may
incur additional costs), or online at:
https://www.agedcarecomplaints.gov.au/ or by writing
to:
Aged Care Complaints Commissioner
GPO Box 9848
IN YOUR CAPITAL CITY