Search

Non-compliance

What is non-compliance?
Non-compliance is where a residential aged care home is found not to meet the requirements of one or more of the expected outcomes of the Accreditation Standards.

Residential aged care homes are required to comply with the Accreditation Standards at all times.

It is the responsibility of the approved provider to demonstrate the residential aged care home complies with the Accreditation Standards. Please be aware that providing false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Codes Act 1995.

At any stage of the accreditation process – during the course of a site audit, support contact or review audit – the Agency may identify areas of non-compliance with the Accreditation Standards.

The Agency may also identify evidence of serious risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of residents.

What is a timetable for improvement?
Where non-compliance is identified, the Agency may put a residential aged care home on a timetable for improvement (TFI). A timetable for improvement sets out the improvements and the maximum time allowed to address issues of non-compliance identified by the Agency.

If the Agency decides to set a timetable for improvement, the residential aged care home is given written advice about the matters where improvements must be made to ensure compliance with the Accreditation Standards. The Agency monitors the residential aged care home’s progress in achieving compliance.

What happens if the residential aged care home does not comply at the end of the timetable?
Because residential aged care homes are required to comply with the Accreditation Standards at all times and to ensure care of residents is not compromised, it is vital the residential aged care home achieves compliance promptly, and in any event, by the end of the timetable. If it does not comply by the end of the timetable, the following may occur.

  • The Agency may conduct a review audit and may vary or revoke the residential aged care home’s accreditation.
  • The Agency may recommend to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Ageing that sanctions be imposed.