Accreditation is the evaluation process
that all aged care homes must undergo to continue operate.
Accreditation is carried out by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation
agency established under the Commonwealth 1997 Aged Care Act. All assessors
have completed an approved training course and are registered as aged
care quality assessors with the Quality Society of Australasia (QSA).
The focus of accreditation is for continuous improvement through assessment
and is particularly important. This is why Thompson Health Care is constantly
looking at the current standard of care and service provided, and continually
aiming to improve.
There are four standards:
- Management systems, staffing and organisational development
- Health and personal care
- Resident lifestyle
- Physical environment and safe systems
During the site audit the team observes the living environment and practices
of the home. They assess the quality of care by reviewing documents (eg
policies, care plans); interviewing staff, residents, relatives and other
relevant people (eg visiting doctors, pharmacists);
There is no formula for determining a period of accreditation but in general
terms, the longer the period of accreditation, the better the performance
of the home:
- Truly exceptional homes may be considered for up to four years accreditation
- Homes that are performing well and comply with all or almost all expected
outcomes, satisfy the Agency about their undertaking of continuous improvement
and do not have a recent history of non-compliance would be awarded
three years accreditation
- Homes that do not meet all or almost all the expected outcomes, or
that have a recent history of significant non-compliance, or are in
breach of some other obligations, may be accredited but for a lesser
period.
"Of paramount concern in making accreditation decisions
is the health, safety and wellbeing of residents. Where there is non-compliance
with the Standards, the Agency maintains close supervision of the home to
ensure that improvements are implemented and residents are protected. The
Department of Health and Ageing is kept informed, and may take its own compliance
and monitoring action" - The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency
Ltd open
page for printing
