The Department has engaged Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association (RCSA) and Healthcare Australia (HCA) to provide surge workforce, commencing 1 July 2020, to ensure the continuity of aged care during COVID-19.
These arrangements complement the temporary surge workforce through Mable’s online platform, and the emergency response teams and remote locums through Aspen Medical that are already in place. The new services allow residential and home care providers to access a wider pool of workforce suppliers when looking to engage additional staff to supplement their workforce in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak.
If providers are unable to find all required staff through their usual arrangements, the workforce surge measures are in place to help providers find skilled workforce to fill critical gaps or shortages.
These additional arrangements recognise the ongoing need of providers to readily access experienced and qualified staff when managing a COVID-19 outbreak.
Under the existing workforce measures, the Government will continue to pay the costs of staff deployed where a COVID-19 outbreak is experienced by an aged care provider and staff are engaged through Aspen Medical for emergency response teams and remote locums, and for staff engaged through Mable. Staff engaged through RCSA and HCA will be invoiced directly to the providers, and may be reimbursed through the COVID-19 Aged Care Support Grant Program.
Don’t forget to inform the Department if you have a COVID-19 case or outbreak at agedcarecovidcases@health.gov.au so that we can support you during the outbreak, including helping you to access available surge workforce.
For more information visit the Department of Health’s website for Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 aged care workforce measures.
Image: Rike, iStock.
