Sanctions are conditions which may be placed on the operation of an aged care home by the Department of Health and Ageing, as provided for by the Aged Care Act 1997.
The Agency does not impose sanctions but does make recommendations to the Department of Health and Ageing to do so when:-
- non-compliance at a home represents serious risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of residents;
- a home fails to rectify non-compliance by the end of a timetable for improvement;
- following a site audit or review audit that provides evidence of non-compliance and it is considered that recommending sanctions is warranted.
The Agency will always keep the provider informed, and give information and evidence of the area where it considers the level of care to be unsatisfactory, or the kinds of serious risk identified. The provider will also be given a copy of the recommendation the Agency makes to the Department of Health and Ageing.
While it is the Agency that recommends sanctions, it is the Department of Health and Ageing which imposes them.
When the Department imposes sanctions on a home, the Agency places a statement on the front page of the home’s published accreditation report stating that “sanctions are imposed”.
The sanctions the Department may impose will depend upon the action required to address the areas of non-compliance or serious risk. The timeframe for sanctions will be decided by the Department.
Go to sanctions http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/ageing-rescare-sanction.htm for more information.
Homes will continue to be monitored by the Agency for compliance with the Accreditation Standards during any sanction period.
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