After another alleged murder at the hands of a carer, should national aged care screening be fast-tracked?
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The friends and family of an alleged murder victim, Monica Stockdale, want the implementation of the national aged care screening process to be fast-tracked to ensure that everyone and anyone working in the sector are fit for their job.
The national aged care screening process was a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care that occurred back in 2018. Now I know that doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago, but it was five years ago, which is part of the reason Monica Stockdale’s family and friends want this done now.
The hope is that this new screening scheme will weed out people who are not fit to work as a carer.
The federal government has explained that the initiative is multi-faceted and has four elements including: the code of conduct for age care, worker screening, English proficiency, and ongoing training.
The Code of Conduct, which sets out standards of acceptable behaviour, came into effect in December last year. It is run by the Age Care and Quality Commission, which also happens to be responsible for the recently implemented banning orders register.
The Code of Conduct is quite simple. Aged care workers must agree to provide care, supports, and services to people while adhering to the following code:
When providing care, supports and services to people, I must:
(a) act with respect for people’s rights to freedom of expression, self determination and decision making in accordance with applicable laws and conventions; and
(b) act in a way that treats people with dignity and respect, and values their diversity; and
(c) act with respect for the privacy of people; and
(d) provide care, supports and services in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill; and
(e) act with integrity, honesty and transparency; and
(f) promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of care, supports and services; and
(g) provide care, supports and services free from:
(i) all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse; and
(ii) sexual misconduct; and
(h) take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to:
(i)all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse; and
(ii) sexual misconduct.
According to ABC News, the commission can actually blacklist an individual from working in the aged care sector if they have been found to have engaged in serious misconduct. Ms Stockdale’s case is an example of this.
Ms Stockdale, 70, was a resident at Baptistcare Bethel in Albany where police allege she was strangled to death by Jacob Anthony Hoysted, who worked at the facility, on November 28, 2022.
The 19-year-old male was due to appear via video link in court yesterday for mention of a murder charge. At the time of writing, the plea of Mr Hoysted is unknown.
Baptistcare told ABC news that the accused had provided a police clearance and declared he had never been convicted of an offence in the past. Unfortunately, this means that there is no suggestion there is anything in Mr Hoysted’s past that would have prevented him from getting a job at any aged care facility.
Ms Stockdale's son Matt said any plans the government had for a national screening register should be implemented as soon as possible. He went on to say, ‘I think they should be putting in more effort to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people living in these aged care facilities.’
Ms Stockdale's friend, Jocelyn O'Connell, also said the register was essential stating ‘It would help track [workers], it would help the care system hopefully filter out the people who shouldn't be there,’
‘Think about your own grandparents and how you'd like them to be treated … they're our elderly, they're our history, they've done their time and now they need the younger generations to help look after them and make them comfortable before they go,’ she said.
Sadly, the Ageing national chief executive Patricia Sparrow said the register had been discussed for several years, however, ‘the government has agreed to implement [the scheme] but it won't be operational until we have a new Aged Care Act in 2024.’ Ms Sparrow went on to explain that some protections, such as the code of conduct, had already been put in place to ensure those in aged care were cared for appropriately.
This story is truly heartbreaking and we hope that the government takes action before 2024 - as it is clear the Stockdale family, along with millions of other Aussies, think the code of conduct just isn’t good enough on its own. Our thoughts go out to the Stockdale family, and all other residents and families who have been impacted by this awful story.
So, now it’s your time, members. What do you think of what has been done since the Royal Commission into Aged care? Has enough been done? Are aged care residents feeling protected? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
The national aged care screening process was a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aged Care that occurred back in 2018. Now I know that doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago, but it was five years ago, which is part of the reason Monica Stockdale’s family and friends want this done now.
The hope is that this new screening scheme will weed out people who are not fit to work as a carer.
Aged care workers should be screened to ensure they are fit for their job. Image Source: Shutterstock.
The federal government has explained that the initiative is multi-faceted and has four elements including: the code of conduct for age care, worker screening, English proficiency, and ongoing training.
The Code of Conduct, which sets out standards of acceptable behaviour, came into effect in December last year. It is run by the Age Care and Quality Commission, which also happens to be responsible for the recently implemented banning orders register.
The Code of Conduct is quite simple. Aged care workers must agree to provide care, supports, and services to people while adhering to the following code:
When providing care, supports and services to people, I must:
(a) act with respect for people’s rights to freedom of expression, self determination and decision making in accordance with applicable laws and conventions; and
(b) act in a way that treats people with dignity and respect, and values their diversity; and
(c) act with respect for the privacy of people; and
(d) provide care, supports and services in a safe and competent manner, with care and skill; and
(e) act with integrity, honesty and transparency; and
(f) promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that may impact the quality and safety of care, supports and services; and
(g) provide care, supports and services free from:
(i) all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse; and
(ii) sexual misconduct; and
(h) take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to:
(i)all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation, neglect and abuse; and
(ii) sexual misconduct.
According to ABC News, the commission can actually blacklist an individual from working in the aged care sector if they have been found to have engaged in serious misconduct. Ms Stockdale’s case is an example of this.
A Code of Conduct isn’t enough to ensure our elderly are taken care of. Image source: Shutterstock.
Ms Stockdale, 70, was a resident at Baptistcare Bethel in Albany where police allege she was strangled to death by Jacob Anthony Hoysted, who worked at the facility, on November 28, 2022.
The 19-year-old male was due to appear via video link in court yesterday for mention of a murder charge. At the time of writing, the plea of Mr Hoysted is unknown.
Baptistcare told ABC news that the accused had provided a police clearance and declared he had never been convicted of an offence in the past. Unfortunately, this means that there is no suggestion there is anything in Mr Hoysted’s past that would have prevented him from getting a job at any aged care facility.
Ms Stockdale's son Matt said any plans the government had for a national screening register should be implemented as soon as possible. He went on to say, ‘I think they should be putting in more effort to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people living in these aged care facilities.’
Ms Stockdale's friend, Jocelyn O'Connell, also said the register was essential stating ‘It would help track [workers], it would help the care system hopefully filter out the people who shouldn't be there,’
‘Think about your own grandparents and how you'd like them to be treated … they're our elderly, they're our history, they've done their time and now they need the younger generations to help look after them and make them comfortable before they go,’ she said.
Sadly, the Ageing national chief executive Patricia Sparrow said the register had been discussed for several years, however, ‘the government has agreed to implement [the scheme] but it won't be operational until we have a new Aged Care Act in 2024.’ Ms Sparrow went on to explain that some protections, such as the code of conduct, had already been put in place to ensure those in aged care were cared for appropriately.
This story is truly heartbreaking and we hope that the government takes action before 2024 - as it is clear the Stockdale family, along with millions of other Aussies, think the code of conduct just isn’t good enough on its own. Our thoughts go out to the Stockdale family, and all other residents and families who have been impacted by this awful story.
So, now it’s your time, members. What do you think of what has been done since the Royal Commission into Aged care? Has enough been done? Are aged care residents feeling protected? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
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