Our approach

While the focus remains on excellence in providing care, at Ave Maria Consultancy we have found that combining the requirements of the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) with evidence-based best practice in resident-centred care planning has two major outcomes:

  1. maximising government funding, and
  2. ensuring the facility is compliant with relevant documentation relating to the specific questions in the ACFI process of validation.

In order to obtain these benefits, Ave Maria Consultancy has developed a process that demystifies ACFI. We work with your staff to review current residents’ ACFI funding levels and then apply our proven ACFI summary tool to simplify ACFI documentation and assist in creating evidence-based resident centred-care plans.

Our processes make it easier for staff to document and see care plans as ‘living, organic and ever-changing’ in order to capture the care needs of the resident regularly over time.

The ACFI summary tool outlines what staff members need to be aware of in regard to their residents’ care needs, and assists staff to identify and document the excellent care they give. The ACFI summary tool is designed for all staff to collaboratively use. This collective approach ensures the facility is claiming the correct funding as well as providing appropriate quality care.

Service packages

Our packages honour famous war nurses who gave all for those in their care.

The Edith Cavell Package

Our clinical consultant will visit your facility, review your ACFI claim, review your current ACFI process, and review your current ACFI appraisal packs in conjunction with your staff. Our approach centres on case conferencing and assessment review of each resident. Our consultant facilitates an open forum discussion about each resident’s care needs which are recorded on a resident summary. This incorporates:

  1. a review of individual resident care needs
  2. an analysis of current claim/ACFI score
  3. identifying the gap (if one)
  4. identifying strategies and interventions which address the care needs
  5. a review of supporting evidence (assessment documentation)
  6. evaluating and reviewing the resident centred care plan.

Depending on the number of residents, staff input, and facility ACFI processes; our consultant will be on site for 5–10 days. A comprehensive summary will be issued to the facility on all aspects of ACFI management within 5 working days from exiting the site. These resident summaries become the essential reference point when residents are re-assessed. The support we provide throughout reassessment ensures that an identified uplift is achieved.

Read more about Edith Cavell

The Vivian Bullwinkel Package

Our clinical consultant will visit your facility and complement the skills and expertise of your ACFI team. Using your policies and procedures, your current ACFI claims, and our resources and tools, we will assist in identifying strategies and interventions which address the care needs; review supporting evidence (assessment documentation) and evaluate your ACFI process.

Depending on the number of residents, staff input, and facility ACFI processes; our consultant will be on site for 3–7 days. A comprehensive summary will be issued to the facility on all aspects of ACFI management within 5 working days from exiting the site. These resident summaries become the essential reference point when residents are re-assessed. The support we provide throughout reassessment ensures that an identified uplift is achieved.

Read more about Vivian Bullwinkel

The Ellen Savage Package

Our clinical consultant will be onsite offering proactive support in evaluating and reviewing resident-centred care plans and overseeing the completion of resident-centred care plans. Working collaboratively with the facility, our consultant will identify gaps and enable staff to implement the process within a prescribed timeframe.

Depending on the number of residents, staff input, and facility care planning processes; our consultant will be on site for 3–7 days. A comprehensive summary will be issued to the facility on all aspects of resident-centred care planning within 5 working days from exiting the site.

Read more about Ellen Savage

Workshops

ACFI in practice

A fun, innovative and interactive one day workshop in which staff will get up close and personal with aspects of ACFI. In this workshop there is an emphasis on the first two domains of ACFI covering questions 1–5, Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and continence and behaviours questions 5, 7–9.

ACFI – a complex tool

A fun, innovative and interactive one day workshop which focuses on ACFI questions 10, 11 and 12: Cornell Depression Scale, Medications and Complex Health Care procedures. Staff will be given ‘hints’ and ‘clues’ and be taught evidenced-based best practice methodology application. This is competency-based training in which participants have an active role to play in the submission of the tools

Assessment and training

Ave Maria can provide ongoing training, competency assessment and review of evidenced-based best practice policy and procedures in line with the accreditation process. Some of the other areas we can consult on are listed below:

  • systems auditing and gap analysis
  • accreditation and compliance management
  • continuous improvement management
  • corporate governance management
  • human resources management
  • staff education and training, and
  • change management.

We would love to hear from you and see how we could be of service to you, your facility, your staff and the difference you make in your residents’ lives.

  

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