00:00The day after the ABC exposed failings at Disability SA Northgate, the Government has
00:08revealed a significant action.
00:10We have an advisor in place and have effectively removed those mechanical restraints from the
00:16site.
00:17An unannounced audit by the Federal Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in November
00:22found staff had inappropriately used restraints to stop falls and control residents' behaviour.
00:28The regulator found Northgate's management acknowledged high use of the practices, that
00:33staff did not have sound knowledge of mechanical restraints and the service did not demonstrate
00:39a culture that fully supported their minimisation.
00:43When we found there has been an issue, we have worked very diligently and quickly, particularly
00:47in the last couple of months since I've come on site.
00:50Federal laws around the use of restrictive practices were strengthened after a royal commission
00:54into the nation's aged care sector.
00:57So I think federal aged care standards were being followed but not to the extent to which
01:03the commission was satisfied.
01:05The Government says the facility's clinical leadership team was following NDIS guidelines
01:10which led to the shortcomings.
01:12One particular set of guidelines was followed but another set of guidelines wasn't followed
01:16and we're not talking about staffing or other problems being something that's come up in this
01:20particular case.
01:21But staff shortages were cited in the regulator's report as sometimes the reason for the use
01:27of restrictive practices.
01:29Was that acceptable?
01:30I know that was written in the report.
01:34We've done an enormous piece of work to look at workforce.
01:37The report stated training had fallen behind and the facility regularly relied on agency staff.
01:44What's the staff culture like?
01:46We've brought in leadership and skills from the sector and are seeing a shift and a much better
01:53understanding of what's required.
01:56The Greens say there's been a lack of transparency.
01:59Why didn't the Government come clean on this last year when the matter first came to light?
02:04Why is it only now that we are finding that the State Government has fallen short of meeting
02:11its obligations to older South Australians?
02:14The Government says residents' families have been kept informed.
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