Better practice in aged care awards

What are Better practice in aged care awards?
The Better practice in aged care awards are presented for better practice in any program run by a residential aged care home that benefits the lives of the residents.

When can a residential aged care home apply for an award?

Nominations for an award are made at the same time as reapplying for accreditation. There is no fee for nominations. The award is not linked to the accreditation period granted to a residential aged care home. Homes may nominate for up to three awards.

Better practice in aged care award nomination form

To be eligible for the award a residential aged care home must be:

• a Commonwealth-funded residential aged care home
• fully-compliant with the Accreditation Standards for at least the last 24 months by the time of the site audit.

What should a submission include?
Before submitting a Better practice in aged care nomination, the approved provider should contact the state office to discuss requirements of the nomination, and inform the office that a nomination is being submitted.

The submission should be no more than seven pages in total and should be set out clearly under the following headings on the correct nomination form:

• Is the program based on the findings of research/feedback?
• Has the program’s effectiveness been measured and monitored?
• Is the program focused on achieving better outcomes for the residents?
• Does the program demonstrate evolving and improving, finding the best way of doing things?
• How does it link with the residential aged care home’s continuous improvement system?
• A one-page summary outlining the nominated program.
• Font size in the Nomination form should be 10 point or greater.

Attachments will not be accepted as an onsite verification of each nomination will be arranged to coincide with the accreditation audit. Therefore, clear evidence is required in the nomination itself.
What things should I consider in my nomination submission?

The following prompts may help address the criteria:

• Is the program based on the findings of research/feedback?
  • Describe how research or feedback led to the development of the program.
• Has the program’s effectiveness been measured and monitored?
  • Describe how the residential aged care home has measured and monitored the program's effectiveness.
  • Show how the residential aged care home has evaluated the results for effectiveness.
• Is the program focused on achieving better outcomes for the residents?
  • Describe how the program is focused on achieving a better quality of life for residents.
  • Show how the program is responsive to the needs and rights of residents.
  • Describe how residents and their relatives were involved in the development of the program and continue to be involved in its ongoing review.
• Does the program demonstrate evolving and improving, finding the best way of doing things?
  • Show how the residential aged care home has evolved and improved as a result of implementing the program.
  • Show how the program assists the residential aged care home to achieve better practice.
  • If the program is considered to be innovative, describe how.
  • Show how the residential aged care home ensures that the program itself continues to evolve and improve.
  • If the program is benchmarked against similar programs in other residential aged care homes, describe what the residential aged care home has learned from this exercise.
• How does it link with the residential aged care home’s continuous improvement system?
  • Describe the residential aged care home's continuous improvement system and how it improves processes and systems for the benefit of residents.
  • Show how the program demonstrates the residential aged care home's continuous improvement system is effective and sustainable.
• A one-page summary outlining the nominated program
  • An outline of the program including background and explanation. This will be used for the purposes of promotion.

What happens on site?
The assessment team verifies information in the nomination. For this reason, all information demonstrating how the residential aged care home meets the criteria must be included in the nomination. If information is absent, the residential aged care home may not be granted an award.

Who makes the decision?
The team writes a verification report and the State Manager considers the nomination submission along with the accreditation decision and the team’s verification report. If the State Manager judges there is sufficient evidence to support an award, it is reviewed by a national panel.

Each national panel is made up of a member from our board of directors and an academic with a speciality in aged care or a related discipline. Academics review nominations relative to their areas of expertise.

What happens if a residential aged care home is granted an award?
Achievers receive a certificate and a better practice profile on the Agency’s website, as well as the opportunity for further promotion and to be involved in one of the Better practice events held across the country.

We tell residential aged care homes about the outcome of a nomination within approximately three months of the accreditation decision.

Can the decision not to grant an award be appealed?
There is no avenue of appeal for Better practice in aged care awards. If residential aged care homes want more information, they should telephone the State Manager in their local Agency office.

Information on residential aged care homes granted a Better practice in aged care award.