Audit ratings
We measure providers’ conformance with the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (strengthened Quality Standards) and give audit ratings at the Outcome and Standard levels.
We use the evidence we collect during the audit to decide on the audit rating. We can give a rating of:
- conformance
- minor non-conformance
- major non-conformance
- exceeding (only applies to Category 6 providers).
The ratings encourage excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.
If we give a minor or major non-conformance rating, we monitor and work more closely with the provider until they show that they’ve fixed the issues in a lasting way. To find out more about how we work with and monitor providers, see Provider supervision.
Exceeding
We consider giving an exceeding rating when a residential home conforms with all 7 strengthened Quality Standards. We ask the provider if they want us to consider them for an exceeding rating. If they do, we ask them to respond to an extra 3 criteria. These measure performance above conformance with the strengthened Quality Standards.
Conformance
We give a conformance rating when a provider shows that it has set up, applies, monitors and continuously improves systems and processes to meet the requirements of an Outcome.
Minor non-conformance
We give a minor non-conformance rating when we identify gaps or opportunities to improve in a provider’s systems and processes. These gaps are not organisation-wide and don’t present high risk to older people.
Major non-conformance
We give a major non-conformance rating when a provider can’t show that it has set up, applies, monitors and continuously improves systems and processes to address the requirements of an Outcome. We can also give this rating when we identify gaps in a provider’s systems and processes that are organisation-wide or present high risk to older people.
