Assessors
What is the role of an assessor?
Aged care quality assessors play an important role in the accreditation process. They provide an independent assessment that leads to an accreditation decision and assist in the ongoing monitoring of residential aged care homes’ care for residents on behalf of the Agency.
Assessors are often referred to as ‘assessment teams’ and ‘quality assessors’.
Assessors are responsible for the assessment of residential aged care homes’ care for residents. They do this by conducting three types of visits – accreditation site audits, review audits and support contacts. Assessors also make recommendations about commencing homes during a desk audit process.
Assessors conduct various assessments of residential aged care homes’ care and services to residents. These include accreditation site audits (including a desk audit prior to going on site), review audits (site visits), support contacts (generally site visits although may be conducted as desk or ‘telephone’ contacts), and commencing home audits (desk audit).
Assessors support residential aged care homes to demonstrate compliance. This is accomplished using standard audit methodology. Although assessors are trained to be helpful to residential aged care homes in this way, it is nonetheless the responsibility of the approved provider to demonstrate how the residential aged care home ensures residents receive adequate care and services.
Assessment teams also have a role in verifying nominations for Better practice in aged care awards.
Assessors may also deliver education to residential aged care homes as part of our QUEST (Quality Education on the Standards) program.
Assessors are bound by a confidentiality agreement, a code of conduct and legislation.
How does someone become a registered assessor?
All assessors complete a training course approved by the Agency and are registered as aged care quality assessors by the Aged Care Assessor Registrar. Prospective assessors must also sit an interview with an Aged Care Industry Panel, attend an orientation program, and fulfil any other registration requirements as indicated by the Agency. Criminal record checks are conducted on all assessors at least every three years.
Assessors must update their registration each year with the Registrar. They must complete at least two audits of residential aged care homes each year, and complete at least 15 hours of professional development, education and training. Other requirements may also be set from time to time, for example, completion of update training.
How do I know if an assessor is registered?
Check the assessor register.
What tools are available to guide practice?
Assessor practice is guided by training and regular professional development, and by the Audit handbook which outlines a clear methodology for auditing and assessment. Other tools for assessors are the Results and processes guide which provides considerations for assessing against the Accreditation Standards, and the Assessment modules which are tools used during support contacts. All three documents are available on our website.
Assessors may attend QAIT (Quality Assessor Information and Training) sessions which are run free of charge for all registered assessors every two months. Information is also available on our website in the assessor information section which provides information on Agency processes, and links to other websites and resources.
What is an assessment team?
An assessment team is made up of registered aged care quality assessors and is created by the Agency to undertake assessments. Assessment teams generally consist of two or more assessors, although may comprise one member in some circumstances.
The size and skill mix of the assessment team depends on several factors including the size of the residential aged care home, any identified special needs and the care levels of residents at the residential aged care home.
In creating and appointing assessment teams, we ensure each assessor is eligible to conduct the assessment. To be eligible, the assessor must:
- be a registered aged care quality assessor
- be available to conduct the assessment
- not have helped the approved provider or key personnel to implement a quality management system within the past three years
- have no pecuniary or other interest which would conflict with a proper audit.
We employ quality assessors either as staff, casuals or contractors. Their responsibilities are the same regardless of employment status.
Assessors are issued with a photographic identification card, and are required to show this card, and a request for access to the residential aged care home, when they visit a residential aged care home.
Who chooses the assessors for an assessment team?
We appoint assessment teams to conduct audits and support contacts. The approved provider may nominate assessors to be members of assessment teams for an accreditation site audit. We check the eligibility of any nominated assessors according to the criteria set out above, and notifies the approved provider of the outcome. If we have not included at least one of the nominated assessors, the approved provider may ask us to reconsider that decision.
Assessors cannot be nominated by residential aged care homes for review audits or support contacts.
Can an approved provider object to an assessor appointed to the team?
An approved provider may object to the inclusion of any assessor appointed to a team to conduct a site audit for accreditation. The objection must be made in writing within 14 days of being told about the team, and be based on the eligibility criteria as set out above.
Although an approved provider cannot ‘object’ to the appointment of an assessor to a team for a review audit or support contact, if they believe the assessor has a conflict of interest and is therefore not eligible, the approved provider should contact the Assessment Manager in their local Agency office immediately.
What do assessors do with the information they collect?
Assessors:
- only collect information necessary to assess the residential aged care home against the Accreditation Standards
- will only use personal information collected to undertake their statutory responsibilities
- give the information collected to the Agency and do not keep any information in hardcopy or electronic form
- make every effort to protect the identity of residents and representatives they speak to, and will not name them in any verbal or written report to the approved provider or the residential aged care home unless permission is granted by the resident or representative interviewed.
If required, information collected by assessors while undertaking an assessment, is made available to the Department of Health and Ageing, and other regulatory bodies. The Agency manages personal information in accordance with the National Privacy Principles and requirements under the Aged Care Act 1997.
For further information on the Agency’s privacy policy, contact our privacy officer at:
Privacy representative – Human Resources Manager
Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd
PO Box 773
Parramatta NSW 2124
Phone: 02 9633 1711
Fax: 02 9633 2422
Email: national@accreditation.org.au
Any person is entitled to make a complaint to us if they believe that an assessor has breached their privacy.
