Smart Practice 2 - Build a Unified Funding-Resource Management Team

This is part of our Smart Practice series on funding and care minute management, focused on improving control, compliance and financial performance.

High-performing homes share one key strength: their funding, rostering and care teams work as one. Together, they form a unified Funding–Resource Management Team.

Why this practice works:

• AN-ACC activities determine both your variable funding income and your care minute targets

• Care minute targets and resident needs directly shape your direct care roster

• Your direct care roster drives a significant portion of your labour cost

  
  

These functions are deeply interconnected. When decisions happen in isolation, misalignment follows and misalignment always comes with a cost, whether in reduced funding, unnecessary labour spend or avoidable risks to care minute compliance.

How to build a Unified Funding–Resource Management Team?

You will need three core components:

1. A unified, target-based operating framework

A structured foundation that calculates and converts data from all functions into shared, actionable insight, helping each function contribute to one unified set of measurable outcomes.

This framework should guide tangible, measurable decisions, for example:

• Which AN-ACC uplifts to submit

• Which prospective residents to admit

• How many PCW/RN/EN hours to add (or remove) in the next roster cycle

  
  

2. Real-time or near real-time data systems

Operational decisions need up-to-date intelligence. Previous-quarter data can’t guide today’s needs, variables shift daily. Your system should feed accurate, timely data into the operating framework to support reliable, informed decision-making.

3. A clear operational workflow

Everyone needs clarity on who does what, when, where and how. Clear roles, sequencing and accountability ensure the framework consistently produces optimal outcomes.

With a connected, structured operating rhythm, your home becomes more adaptive, more efficient and far better positioned to optimise funding, strengthen care minute performance and deliver excellent resident care.