It’s an issue that’s being discussed in our office this week after news of another aged care worker pleading guilty to assault after ‘rough handling’ a resident.
Norah Barlow, the CEO of Estia Health which owns the aged care home where the woman worked, wants a national register for aged care workers to ensure employers can check on their previous work history and any dismissals.
It’s a good idea.
We already have a system to provide background checks and employment records for childcare workers – why not for aged care?
The majority of providers already do police checks on staff and follow up on their references – but it’s not always obvious whether a person does have a history of abuse.
Creating a more transparent system
Ms Barlow says that currently if aged care workers leave their employer due to ‘rough handling’, they don’t need to disclose any details about their previous employment.
We need to raise the bar – not only for our loved ones, but also for the majority of workers who are doing the right thing and may be worried about being blamed for something they didn’t do.
The Federal Government is currently developing an aged care workforce strategy and introducing a national register of health care workers is on the list.
But with more of us getting older and relying on home care services too, we think it needs to be implemented sooner rather than later.
The onus is also on families – as they say, if you see something, say something.
Don’t be afraid to put your hand up if you have a concern – then we can all have an aged care system we can trust.
Discussion1 Comment
Maybe aged care workers don’t have a responsibility of disclosure but it’s good HR practice to check employment with previous employers.