The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has called for action from aged care providers to prepare for the introduction of new requirements relating to the management and reporting of incidents affecting consumers in residential aged care.
The Commissioner, Janet Anderson said the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) which is due to commence on 1 April will require providers to have an effective incident management system and report on a range of serious incidents within 24 hours of becoming aware of them.
“The Commission has new powers to hold providers to account in relation to their response to incidents, including actions they take to prevent and reduce the risk and impact of serious incidents,” Ms Anderson said.
“Successful implementation of SIRS will lift provider performance and boost community trust and confidence in our aged care system,” she said.
“It will do more to protect older Australians from harm and will empower them by reinforcing their right to be safe.”
Ms Anderson said that under SIRS, providers will be required to report a broader range of allegations and suspicions of serious incidents to the Commission than is currently the case.
She said aged care providers must also have an effective incident management system in place to reduce serious injuries and other incidents, and to respond appropriately to incidents when they occurred.
She said the Commission was supporting aged care providers to prepare for SIRS with online education modules, fact sheets, guidance, videos and a series of webinars to help providers understand their new obligations and be ready for the Scheme’s introduction.
Further information about SIRS can be accessed at this PS News link.
