GLENWOOD Gardens aged care facility is continuing to work to improve its service delivery to residents, but it is unlikely a Federal Government sanction on the nursing home will be lifted until mid-January at the earliest, manager Colin Francis believes.

The Federal Department of Health and Ageing imposed sanctions on the facility on October 3 in line with recommendations from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency, after concerns about residents care. While the critical ‘at risk’ status was lifted in a week, a review by the agency found the facility was non-compliant in 13 of 44 areas. Following a written response to the agency by Mr Francis on October 13, this was reduced to 10, however it will “take time” to address the other 10.

While these are in areas such as clinical care, pain management and nutrition and hydration, many of the current deficiencies appear to be in reporting systems rather than the delivery of care itself, according to a review by the Examiner this week of the agency’s audit, made available by Mr Francis.

“Most are of a structural nature. The two clinical nurse advisers are working with our staff on getting these things right. There have been deficiencies in documentation; it’s making sure we have systems in place that not only mean things are done, but can be proven to have been done.”

According to a timetable set down by the accreditation agency, various improvements in the 10 non-compliant areas must be completed by January 16.

Mr Francis said the process has been “pretty traumatic” for staff at the facility.

“They think they are doing a good job and then someone comes and tells them they’re not. But I think we’ve got good staff here and the nurse advisers think so too and have told them that,” he said.

Despite a ban on new residents because of the sanction, staffing levels are being maintained at current levels, “to ensure we will be able to meet and sustain the standards”, he said. He conceded this would have a financial impact on the facility, with no funding for new residents available until the sanctions were lifted.

“We have arrangements in place to manage that, but we’re certainly not going broke,” he said.

Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency corporate affairs general manager Chris Falvey said the standards are all about ensuring outcomes for residents are met.

“How is a home able to ensure they are giving that care unless the care requirements are being properly recorded?,” he said.

“We are continuing to visit (Glenwood) on a regular basis to monitor the progress to meeting the timetable for improvements,” he said.