Community & Business
30 December, 2023
Cooee Lodge reaccredited
After an unannounced three-day audit of the Cooee Lodge by four assessors from the Australian government’s ‘Aged Care and Quality Safety Commission’, the local facility has been reaccredited for the maximum period of three years.
An unannounced audit is standard practice for the commission with public and departmental scrutiny still high following the aged care royal commission.
The four assessors conducted compliancy tests on the lodge facilities and staff members, interviewing management and team members.
The audit measured the Cooee Lodge against the 42 outcomes associated with the standards.
Once the audit was completed, a preliminary report was sent to Gilgandra Shire Council which “outlined expected non-compliance in 12 of the outcomes resulting in six (6) of the standards being unmet”. The council responded by submitting their own report outlining that the Cooee Lodge service did in fact meet the requirements.
The council’s report was described as “comprehensive and contained many items of evidence”, at the November 2023 council meeting.
This report was accepted by the commission who then determined that council was compliant with 41 of the 42 outcomes.
The one outcome which wasn’t met, will now be attended to by the council.
The commission reaccredited the Cooee Lodge following the successful audit.
The report of the commission is a marked improvement upon the 2022 report which contained 32 non-compliances and seven unmet standards.
The council can now continue to provide the essential service to the community.
