The Minister for Aged Care last week released the final report from the independent Review of National Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes. The report includes 10 recommendations designed to increase consumer protection, compliance monitoring, and transparency.
The review was led by Ms Kate Carnell AO and Professor Ron Paterson ONZM, who were appointed by the Federal Minister for Aged Care in May 2017 to examine national aged care accreditation, monitoring, review, investigation, complaints and compliance processes. The review was established following failures in the delivery of quality care in South Australia.
In releasing the report, the Minister announced the adoption of Recommendation 8, which means that all previously announced accreditation visits, including periodic re-accreditation reviews, will be replaced by unannounced visits. Further, unannounced visits will be conducted over at least two days and will assess performance against each of the Aged Care Standards.
Other key recommendations from the review include the formation of an Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, enhanced consumer support and protection measures, a risk-based approach to accreditation, and improved complaints handling processes.
The following summarises the 10 recommendations contained in the review:
R1: The formation of an Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
R2: The development of a centralised database with the reporting of risk indictors
R3: Approved provider participation in a National Quality Indicators Program
R4: The implementation of a ‘star-rating’ system
R5: The Aged Care Commission supporting consumers to exercise their rights
R6: The formation of a serious incident response scheme
R7: Limiting the use of restrictive practices
R8: Ongoing accreditation with unannounced visits
R9: Ensure that assessment against Standards is consistent, objective and reflective of current expectations of care
R10: Enhanced complaints handling with extended powers for the Complaints Commissioner.
The sector’s peak body, Aged and Community Services Australia, has commenced a detailed analysis of the implications of each of the recommendations.
The full National Aged Care Quality Regulatory Processes report is available here.