Effective from 14 November 2025

Policy Owner: Chief Executive Officer

At a Glance

Five Good Friends is committed to delivering safe, high-quality clinical care that is respectful, tailored, and responsive to Members' unique needs. This policy outlines the expectations of Five Good Friends and its workforce in this regard, including responding to signs of deterioration.

All workers, including contractors and Third Party Partners, are required to understand and act in accordance with their roles and responsibilities in ensuring the provision of clinical care and the safety and well-being of our Members.

Scope

The Clinical Care Policy applies to all Five Good Friends workers (employees, Helpers, contractors, and Third Party Partners).

Objective

This policy outlines Five Good Friends’ commitment and approach to delivering safe, high-quality clinical care to Members. It ensures clinical care is person-centred, culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and coordinated with other health professionals to support health, independence, and well-being.

This policy will also help staff understand Clinical Safety Risks and refer them to the relevant policies and workflows to ensure they can assess, document, monitor, and review Clinical Safety Risks for the Members they support.

Definitions

• Clinical care - health care that encompasses the prevention, treatment and management of illness or injury, as well as the maintenance of psychosocial, mental and physical wellbeing (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission).
• Clinical Safety Risk - refers to the individual risks that an older person may experience. Examples include risk of falls and pressure injuries, and the management of mental health and the safe use of medicines. These risks are referred to as high-impact or high prevalance risks within the Aged Care Standards.
• Comprehensive care - Comprehensive care involves appropriately trained health professionals working together and communicating effectively to plan, manage and coordinate care with the older person, their family and carers (NSQHS).
• Dignity of risk - refers to the right for each of our Members to live the life they choose, even if their choices involve some risk. It is the principle of allowing an individual the dignity measured by risk-taking, with subsequent enhancement of personal growth and quality of life.
• Responsibilities - are duties or obligations that are accepted or put into action.
• Risk - a situation involving exposure to danger, harm or loss. Risk is also the chance of something happening that will have a negative impact. It is measured by understanding the consequences of, and likelihood of, an event occurring.