Review audit decisions
What is a review audit decision?
We make a decision after each review audit in accordance with the Accreditation Grant Principles 2011.
Information on the review audit decision is confidential until the report is published on our website.
What is considered when making a review audit decision?
When making the decision we consider:
- the assessment team’s Review audit report
- any submission received from the approved provider in response to the assessment team’s Assessment information
- information (if any) received from the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA)
- any information given by current or former residents or their representatives
- the home’s history of performance against the Accreditation Standards
- whether the decision-maker is satisfied that the home will undertake continuous improvement, measured against the Accreditation Standards, if the home’s accreditation is not revoked.
The decision-maker sometimes comes to a different conclusion to the assessment team about whether the home meets a particular expected outcome. Where this occurs it is usually due to changes occurring at the home after the assessment team completed the audit, which the approved provider set out in their submission.
What decision may be made after a review audit?
A decision may be made:
- to revoke the home’s accreditation
- not to revoke the home’s accreditation, but to vary (change – usually reduce) the accreditation period
- to make no change to the home’s accreditation.
In addition to changing the period of accreditation, a review audit decision can also set out the future assessment contact arrangements for the home – including the type of assessment contact (announced or unannounced) and the frequency of visits.
Where failure to meet the Accreditation Standards has been identified, the decision-maker may set a timetable for improvement for the home.
What happens after a decision is made?
Once a decision is made, a copy of the decision and a copy of the review audit report are sent to the approved provider.
Where the home’s period of accreditation has been changed, a replacement certificate of accreditation is sent to the home.
How are residents informed of a review audit decision?
Homes are encouraged to tell residents and their representatives about outcomes of a review audit, including information on failure to meet Accreditation Standards, serious risk and any sanctions imposed by the Department of Health and Ageing.
Can the decision be appealed?
The approved provider is entitled to seek reconsideration – by a different decision-maker – of a decision to revoke the home’s accreditation or vary its accreditation period.
If the second decision-maker confirms the original decision, the approved provider can appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review. For details about reconsiderations and appeals about decisions, refer to the information sheet on Reconsiderations and appeals.
What information is publicly available?
The decision about the review audit and the assessment team’s report are made available on this website. To access a report go to Reports on homes.