Welcome to part three of our three part guide to compulsory reporting. In this part, we explain approved provider obligations for reporting unexplained absences of care recipients.
Please read part one for information about compulsory reporting of assaults and part two for information about discretion not to report assaults.
A resident is missing – what must approved providers do?
Approved providers must tell the Department of Health and Ageing (the department) if:
- a care recipient is absent from a residential care service and
- the absence is unexplained and
- the absence has been reported to the police.
Approved providers must report missing residents to the department within 24 hours of lodging a report with the police. Reports should be made as soon as possible within this timeframe.
The department must also be notified where the provider was unaware that a resident was missing and the police returned the resident to the service before the provider lodged a report.
The approved provider must have appropriate systems and processes in place to ensure the security and safety of other residents.
Compulsory reports are not the same as complaints
Compulsory reports are not recorded against an approved provider as complaints. The initial report of a missing resident is treated as a notification.
The department monitors compulsory reporting of missing residents. If an approved provider fails to make a compulsory report, or if they have not met their other responsibilities in relation to compulsory reporting, the department may investigate the matter.
More information
For more information please refer to the compulsory reporting guidelines for approved providers of residential aged care.
To report a missing resident to the Department of Health and Ageing, call 1800 550 552.
If you would like more information or have any questions, please leave a comment below.
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