Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS)
The Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) is a new initiative established by the Federal Government which further expands on the current compulsory reporting requirements of residential aged care facilities.
The new scheme comes into effect from 1 April 2021.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) will administer the scheme which will ‘set new arrangements for providers of residential aged care to manage and take reasonable steps to prevent incidents, with a focus on the safety, health, well-being and quality of life of aged care consumers. The SIRS includes both incident management and reportable incident obligations to strengthen aged care systems and build providers’ skills so they are more able to respond to incidents and provide aged care recipients with the support they need.’
Effective incident management is also re-enforced through other requirements that aged care providers must meet.
These include:
The Aged Care Quality Standards, Standard 8: Organisational Governance and Standard 6: Feedback and complaints.
As an aged care provider, Maroba is also obliged to help consumers understand their rights under the Charter of Aged Care Rights.
A Fact Sheet for aged care consumers on SIRS can be downloaded here.
Should you have any questions regarding SIRS, please do not hesitate to contact Linda Winn, Director of Care of another member of the Clinical Team.
References
https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/serious-incident-response-scheme-sirs