Compliance up but work still needed

More than a quarter of the home services providers audited in Q1 are still falling short in at least one quality requirement, says commissioner.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s latest Sector Performance Report shows more home care providers are complying with the quality standards but also that improvements are still needed.

The report covers the July to September 2024 quarter, known as Q1, and includes a foreward from Janet Anderson, who was Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner at the time, before she handed the baton to Liz Hefren-Webb in January of this year.

Ms Anderson said she was pleased to see a significant increase in home services providers complying with the Aged Care Quality Standards this quarter.

Janet Anderson (supplied)

In Q1, 73 per cent of home services providers audited were fully compliant with all their quality standards – up from 65 per cent in the previous quarter.

“At the same time, it is worth noting that more than a quarter of the home services providers we audited in Q1 are still falling short in at least one requirement of the quality standards,” Ms Anderson said.

“Holding providers to account for the quality of care they deliver and for their compliance with financial and prudential obligations is not about ticking a box. It is about ensuring that providers review and reduce their risk, are committed to continuous improvement, pursue transparency and remain accountable.”

Provider committed to striving for excellence

One provider the Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission found to be fully compliant across all areas during an audit in 2024 was ADSSI Limited.

ADSSI’s family of brands all met the national standards, including ADSSI In-home Support, Beresfield Community Care, Dungog and District NeighborCare, and Maitland Community Care Services during the February audit, the report dated May 2024 shows.

John Baillie (supplied)

Speaking with Australian Ageing Agenda, recently appointed ADSSI chief executive officer John Baillie said the company strove for this result.

I’m incredibly proud of our team for the work they’ve done to achieve these results. While we’re always pleased to see our efforts recognised, these outcomes genuinely reflect the dedication of our staff and their commitment to delivering quality care every day,” Mr Baillee said.

“The results weren’t a surprise, but they are a welcome affirmation of what we strive for. In 2025, I hope to see all ADSSI brands continue to build on this foundation, finding new ways to enhance our services and improve the lives of those we care for.”

He added: “We understand the complexities of the reporting framework and are committed to navigating these changes without compromising the quality and compassion of our care.”

No tolerance for persistant non-compliance

In the report, Ms Anderson noted the commission could adjust the intensity of supervision it gave providers at any time from the base level of supervision up to the highest and also take enforceable actions to compel providers to act.

(agedcarequality.gov.au)

“We make these decisions based on the level of risk faced by people receiving care and how willing and able a provider is to manage that risk,” she said.

“There is no tolerance for providers that are persistently not complying with their obligations without an explanation or not committed to fixing the issues in the required timeframes. Where a provider or worker has breached their obligations, causing or posing serious harm to older people, we may also impose a consequence including a penalty such as a fine, or sanction a provider, preventing them from receiving additional government funds.”

Despite the positive results, Ms Anderson said the commission wanted to see improvement continue going forward.

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Tags: ADSSI limited, aged care, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson, John Baillie, report, research, sector performance report, workforce,

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