Audit ratings
During an audit, we measure providers’ conformance against 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 for renewal of registration audits).
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.
A provider’s audit rating will impact their Star Rating and will be shown on the Find a provider tool.
Conformance
We give a conformance rating when an organisation, person or provider shows that it can set up, apply, monitor and continuously improve systems and processes to meet the requirements of an Outcome or Standard.
Minor non-conformance
We give a minor non-conformance rating when we identify gaps or opportunities to improve in an organisation, person or provider’s systems and processes. These gaps are not organisation-wide and aren't likely to present high risk to older people.
Major non-conformance
We give a major non-conformance rating when:
- an organisation, person or provider can’t show that it can set up, apply, monitor and continuously improve systems and processes to address the requirements of an Outcome or Standard
- we identify gaps in systems and processes that are organisation-wide or are likely to present high risk to older people.
Exceeding
We consider giving an exceeding rating when a residential home conforms with all 7 strengthened Quality Standards and meets the exceeding rating criteria. We ask the provider if they want us to consider them for an exceeding rating. If they do, we ask them to respond to the following extra 3 criteria:
- excelling in active partnerships with older people and workers for better outcomes
- excelling in governance and clinical governance systems
- excelling in the dining experience.
A provider must meet all 3 criteria to be considered for an exceeding rating. These measure performance above conformance with the strengthened Quality Standards.
