Named: The NSW home care package providers that have failed to meet aged care quality standards
Dozens of home care package providers have failed to meet key quality standards with inadequate care, understaffing, and failures in communicating among top areas of concern during inspections since the start of the year.
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Dozens of home care package providers have failed to meet key quality standards with inadequate care, understaffing, and failures in communicating among top areas of concern during inspections since the beginning of this year.
Compliance reports published by Australia’s aged care watchdog have revealed 47 home service providers in NSW have failed to meet key benchmark quality standards during inspections of their services since January.
The figures come as a growing number of Australians are relying on the federally-subsidised home care packages – largely driven by ageing demographics and an increase in the number of older people choosing to live at home.
Home care packages are designed to help older people with more significant needs to live independently, helping to delay or avoid moving into residential aged care.
Reports publicly released by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission shows 47 providers have not met compliance standards.
During the audits, providers have outlined steps they are taking to address issues raised by inspectors.
In July, Canterbury City Community Centre was found non-compliant with four strands – ongoing assessment and planning with consumers, feedback and complaints, human resources and organisational governance.
The report stated the company was unable to demonstrate its workforce had the qualifications and competence to effectively perform their roles.
Concerns raised by the ACQSC included management not verifying successful applicants’ educational qualifications when recruiting staff.
“There is no monitoring to check clinical staff are working within the scope of their responsibilities and that the clinical care delivered is aligned to a clinical governance framework and legislative requirements,” the audit report stated.
Another company found to not comply with multiple quality standards was Surry Hill- based company Alliance Health Services Group Pty Ltd, which in July was found non-compliant with three standards – ongoing assessment and planning with consumers, personal care and clinical care, and services and supports for daily living.
The report stated the provider was unable to demonstrate that residents received safe and effective personal care and clinical care that was best practice and tailored to their needs and optimised their health and wellbeing.
According to the audit, the service was also unable to demonstrate that information about residents’ condition, needs, or preferences was recorded and documented, and that all information was available to others where responsibility was shared, including information relating to high-prevalence risks, dietary information and allergies.
Gunnedah Shire Council was found non-compliant in July with five standards including consumer dignity and choice, ongoing assessment and planning, personal care and clinical care, services and supports for daily living and organisational governance
The report stated areas of noncompliance included an inability for the service to demonstrate that deteriorations or change in the mental health or cognitive or physical function of residents was recognised and responded to in a timely manner.
RSL LifeCare at Home North Coast in January was found non-compliant with four standards including consumer dignity and choice, ongoing assessment and planning with consumers, services and support for daily living and feedback and complaints.
The report showed staff shortages were an area of concern, with staff telling aged care quality inspectors they did not have any resources to share their workload “which has potentially impacted” service delivery.
“There is a systemic shortfall in the workforce available to undertake these actions and provide safe and quality care and services,” the report stated.
All government-funded providers are required to comply with eight Aged Care Quality Standards, reflecting the level of care and services the community expects from aged care providers.
Support offered through home care packages can include nursing as well as home help such as showering, managing medicines, basic chores and home maintenance.
The Federal Government this month announced its intention to introduce new aged care reforms that include a focus on supporting more older Australians to access home care packages in their older years.
The reforms are also aimed at addressing frustration at delays for older Australians to access home care packages with more than 68,000 Australians waiting for a home care package as of May this year.
Council on the Ageing chief executive Patricia Sparrow said “reliable and safe access to home care packages is a fundamental right for older Australians”.
“The complexity of aged care needs is increasing, and with that, we need to make sure our system evolves to meet these challenges,” she said.
“This includes ensuring that home care package providers are equipped and committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred care.”
Below is a list of providers that were found to be non-compliant with the aged care quality standards since January this year, as published by the Aged Care Quality Safety Commission.
Alliance Health Services Group Pty Limited
Report date: July 15
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care. Services and supports for daily living
Canterbury City Community Centre Inc.
Report date: July 16
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Feedback and complaints. Human resources. Organisational governance
Gunnedah Shire Council
Report date: July 24
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care. Services and supports for daily living. Organisational governance.
Resourceful Australian Indian Network Inc
Report date: July 5
Non-compliant standards: Organisational governance
Transcare Hunter Limited Service
Report date: July 11
Non-compliant standards: Feedback and complaints. Human resources. Organisational governance
RSL LifeCare Limited (Ada Cottage Home Care)
Report date: May 17
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice
Alpha Omega Aged Care Pty Ltd
Report date: May 31
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Armidale Care For Seniors Incorporated
Report date: March 7
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Human resources
Bathurst Seymour Centre Incorporated
Report date: April 3
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Bega Valley Home Modification and Maintenance Project Inc
Report date: January 16
Non-compliant standards: Feedback and complaints
Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre
Report date: May 16
Non-compliant standards: Human resources
Bland Shire Council
Report date: May 30
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Canowindra Tweed-Byron Aged and Disabled Aboriginal Corporation
Report date: February 12
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Carrathool Shire Council
Report date: May 14
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Catholic Healthcare Limited
Report date: January 12
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Feedback and complaints
Comfort Disability and Aged Home Care Services Pty Ltd
Report date: May 2
Non-compliant standards: Personal care and clinical care
Uralla Shire Council
Report date: May 9
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Endeavor In Home Care Pty Ltd
Report date: January 25
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Organisational governance
Enhance Supports and Services Pty Ltd
Report date: January 18
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
SCC Health Pty Limited Service
Report date: March 6
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Human resources
Gilgandra Shire Council
Report date: March 28
Non-compliant standards: Feedback and complaints. Human resources
Goulburn and District Meals on Wheels Service Incorporated
Report date: May 9
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice
Hawkesbury Colo Meals on Wheels Incorporated
Report date: February 28
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Human resources
Hunter Healthcare Group Pty Ltd
Report date: February 22
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Inspired Aged Care Services Pty Ltd
Report date: February 19
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
Interchange Wingecaribee Inc
Report date: March 25
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Human resources
Intereach Limited
Report date: April 19
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Lana & Terry Beyond Care Pty Ltd
Report date: April 26
Non-compliant standards: Human resources
2REALIT Pty Ltd
Report date: May 14
Non-compliant standards: Personal care and clinical care
Nambucca Valley Care Limited Service
Report date: March 28
Non-compliant standards: Feedback and complaints. Human resources
New Age Community Services Pty Ltd
Report date: April 17
Non-compliant standards: Feedback and complaints. Organisational governance
New England Community Care
Report date: January 11
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Human resources
Northern Coalfields Community Care Association (NeighbourCare) Limited
Report date: January 19
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Feedback and complaints
Northern Settlement Services Limited
Report date: March 6
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Human resources
Parkes Shire Food Service Incorporated
Report date: January 29
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
Randwick City Council
Report date: January 10
Non-compliant standards: Organisational governance
RSL LifeCare @ Home North Coast
Report date: January 23
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Services and supports for daily living. Feedback and complaints. Human resources
Russian Relief Association of St Sergius of Radonezh
Report date: May 21
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Southern Cross Community Care – Parkes
Report date: January 14
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
Sri Om Foundation Limited
Report date: March 7
Non-compliant standards: Organisational governance
Serbian Orthodox Diocese Aged Care and Education Property Fund
Report date: May 23
Non-compliant standards: Organisational governance
Sunrise Home Care Pty Ltd
Report date: March 27
Non-compliant standards: Organisational governance
Sydney Multicultural Community Services Incorporated
Report date: February 27
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
The Co-operative Life Limited
Report date: March 14
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice. Human resources
The Junction Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated
Report date: January 10
Non-compliant standards: Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
Tripoli And Mena Association Limited
Report date: May 31
Non-compliant standards: Feedback and complaints. Human resources
Valmar Support Services Limited
Report date: May 23
Non-compliant standards: Consumer dignity and choice. Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers. Personal care and clinical care
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