However, the failure to maintain documents in an appropriate way can have serious consequences for an organisation, from work inefficiencies and miscommunication through to systemic problems that can lead to sanctions, fines or loss of accreditation.
It means communicating respectfully and recognising and respecting a consumer's individuality in all aspects of care and services. Dignified and respectful care and services will help consumers to live their lives the way they choose, including social and intimate relationships.
The terms 'privacy' and 'confidentiality' are commonly used interchangeably. Confidentiality relates to information only. The legal duty of confidentiality obliges health care practitioners to protect their patients against inappropriate disclosure of personal health information.
Accreditation is a key component of the aged care regulatory environment established by the Aged Care Act 1997. Accreditation seeks to assess the quality and care of services delivered by approved providers against the Quality Standards and contributes to improved safety, quality and continuous improvement of services.
The four service delivery standards are:
- Empowerment: People's rights are promoted and upheld.
- Access and engagement: People's right to access transparent, equitable and integrated services is promoted and upheld.
- Wellbeing: People's right to wellbeing and safety is promoted and upheld.
By Charlie Robinson | 28 July 2015. WIKI says, best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark.
Standards of practice are the “how-to” of the discipline or clinical specialty. They include clinical policy statements, standards of practice, standard operating procedures, clinical practice protocols, and clinical procedures.
The Code of Ethical Conduct defines standards of conduct, ethics and behaviour required of all individuals engaged by the department, and a process for managing non-compliance.
Ethical behavior in community interventions relates to the treatment of people, information, and money, and to the general actions of the workers and the organization or initiative, even when they're not dealing directly with the community.
Organisational standards are the specification of principles and procedures by which the institution assures that it provides an appropriate learning and research environment.
The overarching objective of the community services sector is to ensure that older people, people with disability and vulnerable children are supported or assisted and have the opportunity to fully participate in the community.
There are six National Standards that apply to disability service providers in Australia:
- Rights.
- Participation and Inclusion.
- Individual Outcomes.
- Feedback and Complaints.
- Service Access.
- Service Management.
A service standard specifies requirements that should be fulfilled by a service to establish its fitness for purpose. The standard may provide definitions, indicators of service quality and their levels, or specify a time period for delivery, such as the standard on handling customer complaints.
The Standards are built upon five principles; dignity and respect, compassion, be included, responsive care and support and wellbeing.
Residential aged care
- Standard 1: Management systems, staffing and organisational development (9 expected outcomes)
- Standard 2: Health and personal care (17 expected outcomes)
- Standard 3: Resident lifestyle; and (10 expected outcomes)
- Standard 4: Physical environment and safe systems. ( 8 expected outcomes)
The degree of care (watchfulness, attention, caution, and prudence) that a reasonable person should exercise under the circumstances. If a person does not meet the standard of care, he or she may be liable to a third party for negligence.
There are eight NSQHS Standards, which cover high-prevalence adverse events, healthcare- associated infections, medication safety, comprehensive care, clinical communication, the prevention and management of pressure injuries, the prevention of falls, and responding to clinical deterioration.
Principles of the Code
- Consumer-led and community shared value.
- Living well and integrated models of care.
- Board governance.
- Best-practice sharing and industry benchmarking.
- Education and training, including workforce accreditation.
- Workforce planning.
- Proactive assurance and continuous improvement.
Three domains of residential care are subsidised by the ACFI: Activities of Daily Living Domain (ACFI Questions 1-5; Nutrition, Mobility, Personal Hygiene, Toileting and Continence) Ratings calculated from completing checklists in this domain determines the level of the subsidy.
Accreditation StandardsStandard Four: Physical environment and safe systems. Each Standard consists of a principle and several expected outcomes. Standard One also has an 'intention' which indicates it acts as the umbrella for the other three Standards. There are 44 expected outcomes across the four Standards.
Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust, usually a family member. The abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect.
Government-funded aged care services include in-home care (care in your home), residential care in aged care (nursing) homes, and short-term care such as respite care.
