The final report for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety is set to come out on April 30.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With a new set of quality standards set to govern aged cares services across the country as of July 1, the Commonwealth has released guidance material telling aged care services what to expect from a new set of rules.
Related
Under the Commonwelath's reforms aged care, resident care and home care services will no longer be governed by separate quality standards.
Quality reviews will also now be conducted by by registered quality assessors who are employed by the Aged Care Commissioner.
These assessors now have the power to visit aged care services and home care services unannounced.
Previously aged care homes had to be given written notices in advance saying when an inspection was going to be made.
Pioneers lodge general manager Jane Bonny said under the new rules, aged care services will only be receiving notices saying that an inspection will be made at an undeclared time within a seven month period.
"A facility is obliged to notify residents and families that quality assessors are coming, we a get a letter which says that 'within seven months you will be accredited'," Ms Bonny said.
"They used to only talk to administrators, the new assessors will now come and talk to residents and families to get their perspectives during the unannounced site audits to ensure residents are getting the care that is expected.
"These assessors are highly educated professionals who know the aged care profession well and have worked in aged care."
Ms Bonny said she fully supports the changes to standards which she believes will see aged care services become more centered around satisfying their consumers rather than policy makers.
"The old standards were good but they were all focused around administration detail and policy," Ms Bonny said.
"The nice thing about the new standards is that it is consumer focused, it puts the consumer in the centre of the standards and therefore it's about the standards meeting consumer needs.
"Health and aged care should be an open disclosure forum we are all human when mistakes are made we should be open in reporting them."
Under the new rules the Commissioner also has more power to request specific information and documents including self assessment material made by aged care providers.
DO YOU WANT MORE GRIFFITH NEWS?
Receive our free newsletter delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Sign up here. Sign up here.
