2.6 Incident Management
Reportable Incident, Accident and Emergency Policy and Procedure
Latest version link below
https://form.jotform.com/221777903619869
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Melbourne Community Health recognises that many of the participants of Melbourne Community Health are at risk of incidents and accidents. Melbourne Community Health ’ accident, incident and emergency policy seek to:
• Minimise risk and prevent future incidents through the development of appropriate participant centred plans, staff training, assessment and review.
• Ensure that there is immediate management of an incident, accident or emergency and that each of these events is appropriately prioritised, managed and investigated.
• Identify opportunities to improve the quality of participant supports by ensuring that the Incident system is planned and coordinated and links to the quality and risk management systems.
To comply with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018. To maintain an Incident Management System that covers incidents that consist of acts, omissions, events or circumstances that:
• Occur in connection with the provision of supports or services to a person with a disability; and
• Have, or could have, caused harm to the person with a disability.
The participant will be given information in Easy Read Format, as required.
PROCEDURE
Incident Management
Melbourne Community Health will establish procedures that identify, manage and resolve incidents, including the following:
1. Support Worker reports the incident to the Director.
2. Support Worker completes an Incident Report that identifies and records details relating to the incident - people, place, time and date.
3. The Director will determine from the information provided if this incident is classified as a Reportable
Incident by the NDIS Commissioner if so then this must be reported using the Reportable Incident
Process. Melbourne Community Health will comply with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Incident Management and Reportable) Rules 2018.
4. Director ensures that the affected participant is supported and assisted through; o Informing them that they have access to an advocate, if the participant does not have an advocate, then Director can help them to access an independent advocate. o Reviewing their health status to assist and support. o Reviewing the environment to ensure their safety and to prevent any recurrence.
o Make sure that their well-being is supported and help with the development of their confidence and competence so that they do not lose any functions.
5. Director or their delegate will review the incident with the participant.
6. Melbourne Community Health will collaborate with the person to manage and resolve the incident. The information gained from an incident is used to amend or implement practices as part of our continuous improvement, including:
o When an investigation by the registered NDIS provider is required to establish the causes of a particular incident, its effect and any operational issues that may have contributed to the incident occurring, and the nature of that investigation.
o If an incident requires corrective action to be undertaken, then a plan will be developed to adjust practices according to the nature of that action required.
Incidents, Accidents and Emergencies Principles
• Melbourne Community Health Support Worker will always respond to incidents and accidents by ensuring that they protect themselves first, and respond to the incident or
• accident within their training and qualifications.
• Support Worker is not to provide active medical assistance unless they are appropriately trained.
• Support Workers are required to contact the Director immediately when an incident occurs.
• Support Worker will ensure they communicate with the participant and the appropriate health and management personnel in an emergency.
• The Director or their delegate may seek expert advice and engage experts/consultants or specialists where a significant incident is occurring or has occurred.
• Melbourne Community Health will support a transparent approach when responding to an incident that places the participant /staff member central to the response. This includes the process of open discussion and ongoing communication with the participant and staff member.
• Melbourne Community Health will create a “fair workplace culture” where it is safe to report incidents and where a systems approach to incidents and investigation is used.
• Melbourne Community Health will maintain participant and Support Worker's right to confidentiality and privacy.
Incident / Accident Minimisation
• Melbourne Community Health will risk-assess all participants in conjunction with the Melbourne Community Health ' Risk Management policy.
• Incident/Accident/Emergency minimisation and procedures are taught during Orientation and in regular training sessions.
• Risks will be identified, and control mechanisms agreed upon with the participant.
• Melbourne Community Health consult with the participant and relevant stakeholders to design specific risk control mechanisms to reduce any risks to the participant and their environment.
• Effectiveness of mechanisms will be reviewed via:
o Participant review processes including Support Plan review. o
Participant's feedback. o Case Conferencing. o Internal and External Audits.
o Review of policies and procedures.
Incident / Accident Investigation
• Investigate incident and accidents in accordance with the process listed within the Incident Investigation Form to determine:
o The immediate reasons for the event. o The underlying reasons for the event. o
Immediate actions require to fix the reasons for the event.
o Preventive actions required for the future.
• The information gained from incidents will be incorporated into our Continuous Improvement cycle to enable prevention of the incident or accident in the future.
• Each incident's investigation and analysis will vary due to the seriousness of the incident.
Incident Analysis Procedure
Director or their delegate undertakes the analytical process that includes:
1. Determining the cause of the incident.
2. Ascertaining if the incident was an operational issue.
3. Considering the participant's perspective, including:
o Whether the incident could be prevented. o How the incident was managed and reviewed.
o Remedial action to prevent future reoccurrence or minimise the impact.
4. Reasoning; why this occurred – environmental factors, participant’s health.
5. Ascertaining if strategies or processes need review and improvement.
6. Devising new strategies or procedures.
7. Planning for staff training in these new strategies.
8. Implementing new strategies.
9. Reviewing of new strategies.
All Incident Investigation Forms must be closed out by the Director and/or their delegate, plus one other person.
Corrective Actions
After the Incident Analysis Procedure has occurred, and corrective action is implemented. Every corrective action must be evaluated to ascertain the effectiveness of the action as per Continuous Improvement Policy – Plan, Do, Check, Act
Informing Participants
Melbourne Community Health will inform participants or their advocate about the outcome of the incident in writing or verbally, dependent on the participant and the situation. Collaborative practice will be undertaken to ensure that the participant and their advocate are involved in the management and resolution of the incident.
Staff Training
Melbourne Community Health recognises the importance of prevention to ensure the safety of both Support Worker and the participant. Our Orientation Process includes training in work health and safety, comprising manual handling, infection control, safe environments, risk and hazard reduction.
Upon commencement, Support Workers are trained in organisational processes, including how to report an incident and to whom this is to be reported (Director). Staff always have access to policies and procedures.
Reportable Incidents
The Director or delegate is responsible for reporting all Reportable Incidents to the NDIS
Commission. Reportable incidents are serious incidents or allegations, which result in harm to a NDIS participant.
Melbourne Community Health as a registered provider will report serious incidents (including allegations) to the NDIS Commission, arising from the organisation's service provision.
• The death of a NDIS participant.
• Serious injury of a NDIS participant.
• Abuse or neglect of a NDIS participant.
• Unlawful sexual or physical contact with or assault of a NDIS participant.
• Sexual misconduct committed against or in the presence of a NDIS participant, including grooming of the NDIS participant for sexual activity.
• The unauthorised use of the restrictive practice in relation to a NDIS participant.
Reportable Incident Procedure
1. Support Worker must immediately notify the Director.
2. Follow the procedure as per Incident Management policy (as above).
3. The Director or their delegate will notify the NDIS Commission within 24 hours of being made aware of the reportable incident via- reportableincidents@ndiscommission.gov.au Assessment of the incident by the Director and/or their delegate will incorporate:
1. Assess the impact on the incident on the NDIS participant.
2. Analyse and identify if the incident could have been prevented.
3. Review of the management of the incident.
4. Determine what, if any, changes are required to prevent further similar events occurring.
All incidents are to be recorded, and actions are taken to respond and prevent them from happening again.
Documentation
• All Reportable Incident Reports and Registers must be maintained for seven (7) years.
• This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis or when legislation changes.
• All participants, families and advocates will be informed of this policy in the Participants Handbook or through oral communication.
• Staff will be trained in this process, and this is recorded in their personnel file.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
• Training Needs Analysis
• Incident Form
• Incident Investigation Form
• Orientation Checklist
• Continuous Improvement Policy and Procedure
• Risk Management Policy and Procedure
REFERENCES
• Work Health and Safety Act (2011)
• NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators 2018
• Privacy Act (1988)
• NDIS (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules (2018)