What do AN-ACC assessors do?
AN-ACC assessors undertake assessments of older adults who live in aged care homes. As delegates of the Department of Health, APM assessors gather information about a resident in a variety of different ways.
Assessors will introduce themselves to residents and explain the purpose of their visit. Assessors will seek permission and consent to engage with the resident through all stages of the assessment.
Assessors will gather assessment data through a range of methods, including:
- Observation of a resident’s ability to perform daily routine
- Discussion with staff and significant others involved in the resident’s care
- Review of a wide range of clinical documentation
- Assessment of functional, cognitive, and physical capability of the resident
The assessments will take approximately one hour, which includes a chat with residents about what they do independently and where they may require assistance.
Residents are not required to engage if they do not wish to.
Information can be gathered through various methods to facilitate assessment progression while noting the need to always respect the resident’s choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the assessment process?
AN-ACC assessments involve a multi-step process which includes liaising with residents, staff who provide direct care for them, and the facility.
The process includes the following steps:
- Referral is allocated by the Department of Health and Aged Care to APM via the MAC Portal.
- An APM Customer Service Officer will promptly contact the residential aged care facility to schedule a convenient date and time for the assessment.
- A follow up email confirmation containing essential details such as appointment time, frequently asked questions, and contact information.
- A follow up phone call from the allocated assessor to confirm arrival time, resident names and aged care identification numbers (ACIDs) and any other potential entry considerations, such as infectious outbreaks.
- A follow up email by the assessor confirming the visit.
- The assessor conducts the AN-ACC assessments at the agreed date and time.
- Assessment data promptly uploaded into the MAC Portal upon completion of the AN-ACC assessment
- AN-ACC assessment outcomes will be provided by the Department of Health and Aged Care directly to the residential aged care facility
How can you prepare for an assessment visit?
Before the assessor arrives:
- Confirm the number of residents to be assessed
- Confirm the residents are available for assessment
- Prepare your staff for the assessor’s visit
When the assessor arrives, we ask your assistance to provide:
- A suitable working environment that meets workplace health and safety standards
- Access to move freely around the facility
- Access to clinical documentation systems including log ins
- Access to any paper-based documentation that will assist in the assessment
What happens with assessment data?
Assessment data are uploaded directly to the Department of Health and Aged Care via the MAC portal and will not be stored on any APM servers or devices.
Notes taken during the assessment are kept confidential and destroyed as soon as possible after assessment completion.
APM are unable to distribute any results of the AN-ACC assessments.
Can I observe the assessors during an AN-ACC assessment?
Yes – please speak to the Assessor if you wish to observe.
Please be mindful assessments and interviews can be observed, but not interrupted or influenced. It is essential for the assessor to gather information directly.
When will I know the outcome of the assessment?
The Department of Health and Aged Care will provide outcomes of assessments to residential aged care facilities directly.
What authority do AN-ACC assessors have?
Each assessor carries a photographic APM name badge and a Delegate badge from the Department of Health and Aged Care, which includes delegation authority indicating the following:
"The bearer of this card is a delegate of the Secretary of the Department of Health under subsection 96-2(15) of the Aged Care Act 1997 and may exercise powers and functions delegated under section 29C-3 of that Act to assess the level of care needed by care recipients for the purposes of classifying care recipients under Part 2.4A of that Act. An approved provider of aged care must, in accordance with the Accountability Principles 2014, allow the bearer of this card access to an aged care service to assess the care needs of care recipients."
How often will AN-ACC assessments visits happen?
Assessment visit frequency depend on various factors such as new resident admission rate and reclassification/reconsideration request volume initiated by residential aged care facilities.
When a referral from the Department of Health and Aged is received by APM, the assessment is usually conducted within approximately 28 days of receiving the referral.
There are certain instances when it may take up to 56 days to complete the assessment.
View the assessment process map provided by the Department.