The Managing Director and CEO says the Government is risking structuring out a range of aged care roles that don’t count towards the 200 mandated care minutes commencing on 1 October 2023 as the listed provider announced it had begun an organisational redesign to ensure it meets the target.
Looking to the reforms ahead, Linda acknowledged that the mandated minutes will be a key challenge for residential care operators.
Regis’ care minutes are currently sitting at 170 minutes – 30.4 minutes for Registered Nurses and 139.6 minutes for Enrolled Nurses and Personal Care Workers – lower than the industry average of 187 minutes.
In its Half Year results, Regis revealed that it would shift its workforce towards more direct care roles as a result of the requirements which only count Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses and Personal Care Workers.
“In a systemically underfunded environment, the Government risks effectively structuring out a range of roles that are not valued or are under-valued in the care minutes mandate,” stated Linda.
“Traditionally we have had twice the lifestyle minutes than the average across the sector. We had twice the allied health spend than the average across the sector. Some of the work completed by these groups is not counted when delivered by lifestyle or allied health roles but would be counted if delivered by nursing or personal care roles.”
“I don’t plan on our residents having any less of a lifestyle experience. It might be delivered differently, but they will absolutely still get that high level lifestyle experience.”
The MD/CEO also sees that workforce remains a critical issue for the sector.
“I think it’s our job as providers to compete within the available pool, but the levers to ensure there is a pool of workers sit well outside our control, and I don’t see a comprehensive workforce plan as yet. I am particularly concerned about the availability of registered nurses and the under-valuing of enrolled nurses, who have been a backbone of aged care and are committed to the vocation.
“We are still looking for more funding and regulatory certainty. We are particularly keen to see the draft of the Aged Care Legislation and understand the funding parameters for FY24.”
Watch this space then.