Review audits - overview
What is a review audit?
A review audit is an extensive onsite assessment of the quality of care provided to residents by a residential aged care home measured against the Accreditation Standards. It will usually take a few days to complete.
Review audits may be announced or unannounced. They involve a complete review of how the residential aged care home provides care and services to residents, as measured against all of the Accreditation Standards.
Why are review audits conducted?
A review audit may be conducted if:
- a major non-compliance is identified during a support contact
- non-compliance is suspected
- existing non-compliance is not rectified within the period set by the Agency
- there is a change to the residential aged care home, for example, change in key personnel, number of ‘allocated resident places’ or building
- the Department of Health and Ageing directs the Agency to undertake a review audit.
What is the process for a review audit?
A brief summary of the process is as follows:
- a site audit is conducted by an assessment team
- the assessment team writes a report
- the approved provider is provided with this report which they can then respond to if they wish
- a decision-maker, separate from the team, makes a decisionabout the residential aged care home’s level of compliance and any changes to the residential aged care home’s accreditation status or period.
What happens on site?
At a review audit, aged care assessors visit a residential aged care home and speak with staff, management, residents and their families, to determine whether the residential aged care home meets all the Accreditation Standards and expected outcomes. The team is usually on site for three or more days.
How are residents and representatives involved?
Interviewing residents and their representatives is an essential part of information gathering about a residential aged care home. It is important that residents and their representatives are able to participate and can express their views concerning the care and services delivered by the residential aged care home.
The team interviews at least 10% of residents or their representatives. Residents and their representatives may also provide written information to the team if they wish.
If the residential aged care home has a number of residents who do not speak English, the team may organise an interpreter.
The residential aged care home ensures those residents or their representatives who wish to speak to the assessment team can do so in private and are assured of confidentiality.
The decision making process
The assessment team writes a report which contains recommendations only. A decision as to the home's actual compliance is made separately by an independent decision-maker.
What does the decision include?
The decision includes information on the residential aged care home’s level of compliance and whether the residential aged care home’s period will be varied (decreased) or whether the residential aged care home’s accreditation will be revoked. The decision also includes information about areas the residential aged care home needs to improve in order to achieve compliance with the Accreditation Standards.
If they meet all requirements, most residential aged care homes will not have their accreditation revoked or varied. A residential aged care home must be accredited by the Agency in order to receive funding from the Australian Government. Residential aged care homes with major or persistent non-compliance may have their periods of accreditation varied, or revoked. This is especially relevant where there is a serious risk to residents’ health, safety and wellbeing.
What information is publicly available?
Decisions about review audits and the assessment team’s site audit report are available on this website. Click here to go to access reports on homes.
What other information is available about review audits?
Click here for more information about review audits.
