Kiama Council's Blue Haven Residential Aged Care Facility has achieved 31 out of 42 criteria in a recent Accreditation Assessment by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
The Accreditation Assessment is undertaken periodically (usually every 3 years) at all aged care facilities. The site visits occur unannounced. Assessors visited Blue Haven Bonaira for three days in September 2022.
Blue Haven's Interim Chief Operating Officer Joe Gaudiosi said: "Overall, this is a very positive result and management and staff are pleased."
"I'd like to personally thank all the staff, residents and families for taking time out to make the Accreditors welcome and assisting them with their review. The Assessment team were complimentary of staff and the assistance provided."
"Since the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and the ever-increasing focus on compliance and regulation, visits like this are part-and-parcel of running an aged care business and, while they add complexity to our operations, we welcome the higher standards that have ensued."
The Accreditation Assessment is based on the 8 Quality Standards which contain a total of 42 criteria. Blue Haven's 11 un-met criteria are well spread across the 8 Standards which, on balance, suggests general improvement across all areas compared to critical and significant risk in 1-2 specific areas.
"The un-met criteria will be added to our ongoing continuous improvement plan and the Commission will review our follow-up actions at future assessments or ad-hoc unannounced visits.
"While we have some work to do with 11 un-mets, this is a positive result, given the context of the past two years which has been challenging on many fronts, and the past eight months of high staff turnover, volatility and shortage across management and care staff …. I thank all staff for their commitment and residents and families for their support and understanding," Mr Gaudiosi said.
A summary of the Assessment Report has now been submitted to Council for consideration. Blue Haven and Kiama Council Senior Staff have also prepared a response to the Commission addressing and commenting on the report.
The Commission will then respond with a Final Assessment Report, confirming Accreditation has been granted for a period of up to 3 years.
