Residential services legislation changes

A service provider accesses or discloses a resident’s correspondence and other confidential information only if the resident gives consent.

• The service provider implements and complies with policies and procedures protecting residents’ rights.
• Residents have the right to live in an environment free of verbal, emotional, sexual or physical abuse, neglect and financial abuse.

• Residents have full access to external service providers. An external service provider could be an advocate, professional case worker or other providers of health, disability, welfare or other professional services.
• Residents have the freedom to choose external service providers, who are independent of the service provider, without fear of retaliation.

• A safe, secure and comfortable living environment is provided to residents.
• All areas of the registered premises including internal and external areas and common areas are kept clean and in good repair, and free from hazards.
• Furnishings and equipment supplied for use by residents are appropriate, comfortable, kept clean and in good repair, and are replaced as required.
• Bedrooms, bathroom and toilet facilities give residents appropriate personal space, and security and privacy, including having lockable doors.
• Passages and stairways are well lit and kept free of objects to allow safe and unimpeded movement through them at all time.
• Rubbish is removed regularly and in a way that doesn’t affect the health and wellbeing of residents and staff of the residential service.

The kitchen facilities comply with the service provider’s accredited food safety program, if any, or the food standards code, standard 3.2.3.

People preparing and serving food:

• observe personal hygiene and cleanliness practices
• take reasonable action to minimise the risk of food contamination
• comply with the service provider’s accredited food safety program, if any, or the food standards code, standard 3.2.3.

If residents ask for help with taking their medication according to medical directions, they receive help in line with the Guideline for medication assistance - residential services providers (PDF, 1.6MB).

• The service provider has a safety and emergency plan that includes procedures for any situation requiring immediate attention and remedial action, including a serious incident or extreme weather event at the service.
• Staff and associates of the service provider are aware of, trained in and capable of implementing the procedures in the safety and emergency plan.
• The service provider takes reasonable action to ensure residents are aware of the procedures in the safety and emergency plan.
• The service provider takes reasonable action to ensure emergency services personnel and vehicles have access to the registered premises at all times.

The service provider takes reasonable action to ensure the service and the residents don’t adversely affect the neighbourhood peace and amenity.

Residents are provided with food and nutrition that complies with the best practice guide for healthy eating in supported accommodation published by Queensland Health.

The service provider ensures that staff who provide personal care services hold a current qualification to administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Service providers keep records for each serious incident that occurs at the service, including the:

• nature of the incident
• date of the incident
• name of each resident affected by the incident
• name of the residential service staff who witnessed the incident
• name of the residential service staff to whom the incident was reported
• the action the service provider took in relation to the incident
• the date the service provider took the action.

A service provider for a residential service keeps a register of the records required to be kept at the registered premises for the service.