Aged care giant Australian Unity will take over delivery of Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services from McLean Care from 1 June, as the Inverell-based provider continues its transition out of in-home aged care.
McLean Care confirmed it will cease delivering CHSP services from that date, with Australian Unity appointed by the federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to provide ongoing support to clients.
Australian Unity will contact CHSP clients directly to outline next steps, including entering into new service agreements, while McLean Care said it would continue to assist clients through the transition.
McLean Care has also confirmed it will exit Support at Home services, with clients to be transitioned to alternative providers, including the option to move to Australian Unity. Which provider each client transitions to will be up to each individual to decide.
“McLean Care will continue to assist Support at Home clients throughout the transition period and work closely with providers to minimise disruption to services wherever possible,” Acting chief executive Jill Davidson said.
The changes form part of a broader restructuring as McLean Care responds to ongoing financial pressures and works towards transferring its operations to a new provider.
The organisation said it has been working with the Commonwealth through the Market Adjustment Program to support transition planning, while also engaging with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to ensure continuity of care.
As part of that process, McLean Care has placed a number of properties not directly related to care delivery on the market, with some administrative staff in Inverell relocated into residential facilities as part of efforts to reduce costs and direct resources toward frontline services.
Residential aged care services will continue during the transition, with the organisation confirming there will be no disruption while an expression of interest process to identify a new provider is underway. McLean Care operates residential aged care facilities in Inverell, Guyra and Gunnedah in New South Wales, and Oakey and Millmerran in Queensland.
Board chair Manuel Meszaros said the organisation remained focused on continuity of care during the transition.
“McLean Care remains committed to supporting clients through this period of change and is working closely with Australian Unity to ensure an orderly and respectful transition of services, with continuity of care as the priority,” he said.
The transition follows McLean Care’s February announcement that it would seek to transfer its operations after several years of financial losses linked to workforce shortages, rising costs and the impact of COVID-19.
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