Quality Assessor Information and Training (QAIT)

Information on sessions

A skills and information update program called Quality Assessor Information and Training (QAIT) was introduced in 2006 for all assessors. This program will continue to be offered in 2008. Quality assessors are invited to attend these sessions, free of charge, which take place every two months in most capital cities.

All QAIT sessions cover current issues in aged care and assessment including any changes taking place in the Agency.


2008 April QAIT Program

QAIT Session 14: Getting it Right on Site 

This session will focus on accuracy while on the site of aged care homes, factual note taking and review and the Agency Workbook. Underlying all of these tasks for the assessment team, is the one of Relationship Management, and all of these issues will be discussed with a view to continually improving Agency practice.

2008 QAIT Program (for a summary of topics click on the headings below)

Feb 2008 Session 13: Looking Forward - 2008 (not yet available)

April 2008 Session 14: Getting it Right on Site (not yet available)

2007 QAIT Program (for a summary of topics click on the headings below)

Feb 2007 Session 7: Legislation change and support contacts

April 2007 Session 8: Regulatory compliance

June 2007 Session 9: Continuous improvement (not yet available)

Aug 2007 Session 10: Managing relationships

Oct 2007 Session 11: Fire, security and other emergencies

Dec 2007 Session 12: Sensory Loss

2006 QAIT Program
February 2006 – Session 1: Focus on Standard Three, Resident Lifestyle – Expected Outcome 3.8 Cultural and Spiritual Life
The first of our bi-monthly Quality Assessor Information and Training (QAIT) sessions, designed to assist assessors in their roles, was held around the country during February and March. The sessions, which focused on Standard Three, Resident Lifestyle and on Cultural and Spiritual Life proved popular with feedback revealing that assessors are finding the reinforcement and expansion of knowledge in this area very useful.

April 2006 – Session Two: Interviewing Residents
The topic for the second session was Interviewing Residents. It can often be difficult to gain accurate information, particularly when it is of a negative nature, from residents and family members. This is for a range of reasons, such as when there is a fear of retribution, whether founded or not, and when there is a communication difficulty between residents and family members, or between residents and assessors. The session therefore focused on effective techniques to gain information that assists in the proper assessment of homes, and considered ways to assess and interpret information gathered at interviews, and strategies for gathering further evidence when necessary.

June 2006 – Session Three: Focus on Standard Four, Physical Environment and Safe Systems – Expected Outcome 4.7 Infection Control
The third QAIT session for the year focused on Infection Control. In recent years the aged care industry has had warning of various outbreaks including gastroenteritis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), scabies, and various strains of influenza including the recent avian influenza. As standard precautions were covered during the session, discussion of outbreak management was also discussed. The session included a focus on assessing how the home uses data analysis effectively to ensure positive results for residents.

August 2006 – Session Four: National Program of Unannounced Support Contacts
The Minister for Ageing announced in the May Budget that we will be conducting more unannounced visits with each home receiving at least one such visit each year. This session included discussion of procedures to follow during support contacts. It also included discussion of processes specific to unannounced support contacts, and considerations for report writing. As with all QAIT sessions, the session was aimed at increasing and maintaining assessor skills to ensure positive results for residents.

October 2006 – Session Five: Focus on Standard Two, Health and Personal Care: Expected Outcomes 2.8 Pain Management and 2.9 Palliative Care
Palliative care and pain management are important expected outcomes in maintaining the comfort and dignity of residents in aged care homes. This session examined processes and assessment considerations of the expected outcomes 2.8 Pain Management and 2.9 Palliative Care including their relationship with other expected outcomes. The session also included discussion of current and recently released professional and best practice guidelines.

December 2006 – Session Six: Focus on Reporting
The final session for 2006 included confirming assessor knowledge of Agency requirements in relation to team responsibilities and timeframes for reporting. It also included revisiting writing rationales, additional information, supporting information and observations of care, and use of the Agency Style guide. The session was also an opportunity to spend time with fellow assessors and decision makers in time for Christmas.

If assessors wish to attend the sessions, they are requested to RSVP to the appropriate state education coordinator. They should bring resources as relevant to each session such as the Aged Care Principles, Results and Processes Guide, Audit Handbook, Assessment Modules and Style Guide. These are available under Tools in the ‘For Assessors’ section of the website.

For more information on the current and future sessions, please contact the education coordinator in your local Agency office. Click here for office contact details.