Introduction
1. What is your name?
Name
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LB McIntyre
Submission upload
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I would like to upload a written submission and DO NOT want to complete the online consultation questions
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I would like to upload a written submission AND complete the online consultation questions
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I do not want to upload a written submission
Assessments of criminal history
1. What is your preferred approach to aged care worker criminal history assessments?
Provide reasons for your preferred approach (optional)
Current system has rigour.
2. Are there other options that should be considered?
Provide your answer below
No
Assessment of information other than criminal history
3. If there were to be a centralised assessment of criminal history, should any other matters be routinely taken into account? If so, which of the following options should be considered?
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Option B1 – Information from disciplinary bodies such as health complaints bodies, the NDIS Commission and National Boards
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Option B2 – Information from relevant government agencies
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Option B3 – Information from courts and tribunals
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Option B4 – Information from employers
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This would cover all avenues. I have had an experience where a PCW was employed, national criminal history check was clear but she had an order from the HCCC which she did not disclose which actually forbade her working with older people. It was contact from HCCC which alerted us to this order.
4. Are there any other matters that should/should not be considered as part of any aged care worker screening scheme?
Provide your answer below
Matters before the Family Law Courts and issues of family domestic violence.
Code of Conduct
5. What is your preferred approach to a code of conduct?
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Option C1 – Retain existing arrangements requiring providers to ensure the conduct of aged care workers is in line with the Aged Care Quality Standards and Charter of Aged Care Rights (status quo)
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Option C2 – Adopt the NDIS Code of Conduct for aged care workers
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Option C3 – Develop a new code of conduct specific to aged care workers
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Nurses and midwives have operate under codes of Conduct for many years and they are in fact part of our registration requirements. Something similar for PCW would be appropriate. Consultation with HSU and ANMF, employers, employees and consumers.
6. What do you consider are the advantages and disadvantages of introducing a code of conduct for aged care workers?
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It very clearly sets out expected moral and ethical conduct. In my experience may PCW have very poor boundaries and very poor understanding of the importance of boundaries and what is acceptable ethical and moral behaviour.
Proficiency in English
7. What is your preferred approach to strengthening English proficiency in aged care?
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Option D1 – Require providers to be satisfied that PCWs have the necessary English proficiency to effectively perform their role (extension of the status quo with improved guidance as to the expected thresholds for proficiency)
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Option D2 – Establish a requirement for PCWs to demonstrate their proficiency in English as part of a registration process (consistent with the National Scheme)
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It would be standardised across the country and transportable for the employee.
8. What are the other options for strengthening English proficiency in aged care (particularly for those providing personal and clinical care)?
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1. national contract to a RTO to develop national modules that can be rolled out to Providers with regular/scheduled sessions across the year for potential & current employees. The cost to be met by the Federal Government as the long-term benefit of improving English language skills would be profound and very valuable over time.
Minimum qualifications
9. What is your preferred approach to minimum qualifications?
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Option E1 – Providers must ensure that PCWs are competent and have the qualifications and knowledge to effectively perform their role (status quo)
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Option E2 – Require providers to be satisfied that PCWs have certain minimum qualifications or competencies
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Option E3 – Establish a requirement for PCWs to demonstrate their qualifications as part of a registration process (consistent with the National Scheme)
Provide reasons for your selection (optional)
Again standardised across the country. One Providers interpretation of "competent" could be very different from another Provider.
This would ensure consistent skill sets across this cohort.
This would ensure consistent skill sets across this cohort.
10. What are the other options for strengthening the skills and knowledge of PCWs in delivering aged care?
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Ongoing, funded skill development that is mandatory and legislated, where providers are responsible for ensuring that their employees have access to recognised skill development sets eg: Palliative care, dementia care, behaviour management.
Providers must report on these skill set developments each quarter - just as they report on Clinical Indicators.
Providers must report on these skill set developments each quarter - just as they report on Clinical Indicators.
Continuing professional development
11. What is your preferred approach to continuing professional development?
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Option F1 – Retain existing arrangements whereby providers must ensure that PCWs are recruited, trained, equipped and supported to deliver the outcomes required by the Aged Care Quality Standards (status quo)
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Option F2 – Require providers to be satisfied that PCWs meet specified minimum CPD requirements
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Option F3 – Establish a requirement for PCWs to demonstrate they have met specified minimum CPD requirements as part of a registration process (consistent with the National Scheme)
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As per the reasons in the last question.
To have a standardised approach to skill development, training and competency it must lie outside the Provides because not all Providers will comply and they will have different interpretations of what is required.
To have a standardised approach to skill development, training and competency it must lie outside the Provides because not all Providers will comply and they will have different interpretations of what is required.
12. What are the other options for strengthening the CPD of PCWs and others delivering aged care?
Provide your answer below
Link it to their annual registration just like any other health professional. Documented evidence of ongoing training and skill development per year with a minimum number of hours.
Positive register and/or list of excluded workers
13. How should the register of workers be presented?
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Option G1 – A list of workers who have been cleared to work in aged care (positive list)
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Option G2 – A list of workers who have been excluded from working in aged care (negative list)
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Option G3 – A list of workers who have been cleared to work in aged care and a list of workers who are excluded from working in aged care
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This option covers everyone.
Identifying the appropriate regulatory body
14. What are the advantages and disadvantages of different bodies managing screening of all aged care workers and/or registration of PCWs?
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Given the numbers of these workers probably best to have their own body that works closely with the other governing bodies.
Intersection with other like schemes
15. In principle, should a person cleared to work with people with a disability be automatically cleared to work in aged care?
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Yes
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No
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I think the recent case where a woman who was supposedly receiving care in the home under eh NDIS in South Australia provides the answer to this question.
Both populations are incredibly vulnerable and I think the systems for checking those working in these areas needs to be tightened - even to the point of psychological screening because too many people who are emotionally damaged, have poor insight into their own behaviour and a history of drug and alcohol issues end up working with these populations.
Both populations are incredibly vulnerable and I think the systems for checking those working in these areas needs to be tightened - even to the point of psychological screening because too many people who are emotionally damaged, have poor insight into their own behaviour and a history of drug and alcohol issues end up working with these populations.
16. Are there any other clearances that should support automatic clearance in aged care?
Provide your answer below
No.
17. What are the relevant considerations regarding the interplay between Ahpra (and any other professional registrations) and PCW registration for aged care?
Provide your answer below
I believe AHPRA should oversee this and the PCW registrations become another group which the oversee.