New care workers’ resource launched

A new training and assessment package, which is expected to improve care workers’ safety and quality standards, was officially launched over the weekend.

Following its official launch by Adjunct Associate Professor Catherine Stoddart, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer of WA, more than 100 delegates working in the aged and community care sector applauded the new package.

Developed by peak body Aged and Community Services of WA (ACSWA) in close collaboration with residential aged and home care organisations, delegates from across the aged and community care sector expressed appreciation for the development of the resource, which is primarily a mechanism to enable care workers to have their competencies recognised in the administration of medication when changing employees.

ACSWA chief executive, Stephen Kobelke, said the launch event was an immense success. 

“The event exceeded our expectations, with an overwhelmingly positive response to this new quality resource which has taken over 18 months to develop, and is indicative of the innovative and collaborative thinking within the industry,” Mr Kobelke said.

“ACSWA has received a high level of interest from industry members who are keen to sign up for the resource, and we feel confident that it will become prevalent amongst our member organisations, improving compliance and safety standards while ensuring quality care for older West Australians.”

Officially launching the resource, Adjunct Associate Professor Catherine Stoddart was highly complementary of the program and its applications for residential aged care and home care providers across Western Australia.

She spoke highly of the new initiative, as did Dr Penny Flett, chief executive of Brightwater, who also welcomed the resource, saying it would be an incredibly useful ‘tool’ in improving safety and quality standards relating to medication administration.

There has reportedly never been a standardised process across the aged care industry for assessing care workers in terms of their ability to safely and appropriately administer medication to senior West Australians.

Mr Kobelke added: “In the evolving aged care environment, brought on by changing demographics and workforce factors, new initiatives are required to meet the challenges of an increasing population of elders and we believe this new resource is not only set to improve safety and quality standards, it’s typical of the collaborative thinking that is being demonstrated by our sector.

“These issues are particularly important to our members given they are continuing to struggle with funding and staffing constraints in what remains an expensive and challenging operating environment,” he said.

ACSWA represents not for profit service providers across metropolitan, regional and remote Western Australia, who in total manage 2,387 high care beds, 5,722 low care beds, 8,144 independent living units, 40 day care centres, 1,500 Community Care Packages and over $57.5 million in community care funding.