Aged-care executives two-timing as auditors, in potential conflict of interest

DOZENS of aged-care executives are moonlighting as inspectors for the Federal Government’s aged-care watchdog, prompting conflict of interest fears.

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says aged-care assessors must have a “high degree of independence”.

• State’s worst nursing homes exposed

DOZENS of aged-care executives are moonlighting as inspectors for the federal aged-care watchdog.

A Courier-Mail investigation reveals 56 “quality assessors’’ registered with the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency also work in the aged-care industry.

Forty-two inspectors — who are paid by AACQA to audit retirement homes for quality — are employed by aged-care providers, and 14 are consultants to the aged-care industry.

An analysis of the inspectors’ CVs on LinkedIn reveals that dozens are working as executives or senior staff in aged- care companies.

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

The chief operating officer for a nursing home chain boasts on the company’s website that she is “also an assessor with the Aged Care Quality Agency’’.

One assessor has a LinkedIn profile showing she is a casual assessor with AACQA, as well as “executive care manager’’ at an aged-care home.

Another assessor’s profile shows he is the chief executive of an aged-care home.

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt yesterday issued a “please explain”.

“In line with community and government expectations, strong and objective auditing of aged-care facilities must be a bedrock of quality assessment,” he said.

“I’m seeking clarification from the Quality Agency.”

AACQA rules require assessors to disclose any “current or prior working or personal relationships that may be seen as a conflict of interest or that may influence my judgment’’. But the agency is refusing to reveal how many of its 110 contract assessors work for aged-care homes, or how many declared a conflict of interest.

“Quality assessors are required to declare any potential conflicts of interest at the time of their registration,’’ a spokesman told The Courier-Mail.

“They are also required to declare any potential conflicts of interest prior to each assignment to ensure each assignment is resourced appropriately.”

The consultants — who usually work in teams of two — are paid between $2330 and $2890 to carry out and report on a three-day inspection.

It comes after a Senate inquiry slammed AACQA last week over its failure to detect abuse at the Oakden aged-care home in Adelaide, after inspectors gave it the green light in a 2016 audit.

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert, who chaired the inquiry, yesterday said assessors must have a “high degree of independence’’.

“Obviously, the process wasn’t working because they missed the many, many problems at Oakden,’’ she told The Courier-Mail. “Things have got to change.’’

Kate Carnell, who reviewed aged-care regulation for the Federal Government last year, said it was “preferable’’ that inspectors are not employed in the aged-care industry.

“The issue of making sure there is no conflict is really important,’’ she said. “The quality assessment has turned into a tick-a-box exercise.’’

Council on the Ageing chief executive Ian Yates called for elderly consumer advocates to be included in audit inspections.