Accreditation Update 2012
New DHS Standards Evidence Guide
The evidence guide to accompany the DHS standards can be located as at below.
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-department/documents-and-resources/policies,-guidelines-and-legislation/department-of-human-services-standards
Accreditation Update 2011
DHS Corporate Services Now Have Responsibilities for Accreditation
The responsibility for oversight of the accreditation process in the homelessness assistance and family violence sectors has now been transferred from the Office of Housing to DHS Corporate Services.
If you need to discuss review timelines or how the new standards will impact on your next HASS review, contact Tanya Seath at DHS or call (03) 9096 5292.
New DHS Standards
Australian Healthcare Association (AHA) has now completed consulting with the sector on the evidence guide. CHP and DV Vic would like to thank the services who contributed to our submissions on the AHA draft Evidence Guides and who attended our consultations with the sector on May 25th and August 23rd 2011.
Key issues raised include the need for the production of a guide that is extended to corporate & management standards, concern about issuing clients with copies of their assessments, and seeking clarification regarding exemption for services funded for less than $100, 000.
If you would like a copy of the last submission please email jeaninejones@dvvic.org.au or call Jeanine Jones on (03) 9921 0821.
If you have questions about the One DHS Standards and the Evidence Guide please email the Project Leader or call Tim Wilmot on (03) 9096 5291.
The DHS (service) Standards will replace HASS for organisations who will undertake their next review after the end June 2012. The DHS Standards Project has involved the streamlining of standards and accreditation reviews across the three DHS divisions: Housing, Children Youth and Families, and Disability Services.
Evidence Guide - The Next Steps
The Project Board will sign off on the Evidence Guide and the standards and the accompanying evidence guide will be placed on the FAC. In the meantime, the final standards can be found on the FAC website.
DHS Corporate services will devise the protocol for which assessment bodies can be endorsed by DHS and for the characteristics of services within scope of the new DHS Standards and for those that are exempt.
DHS Corporate services plan to release information on this phase of the project before the end of 2011.
What Does This New Phase Mean?
The majority of organisations that were in scope of HASS will also be in scope of the new DHS Standards. This next phase of accreditation is an opportunity to revise your review methodology against your organisation’s needs. It is envisaged that the sector will be able to choose from a panel of providers to undertake their accreditation reviews after July 1 2012. This will mean examining information provided by DHS when it is issued, regarding the assessment bodies on the panel and the methodology they use to review services. You will then be able to advise your board and staff on what is the best course of action to take for your organization.
A change of provider will not change the general requirement for quality work going in your organisation. If you decide to change assessment provider from QICSA, the new assessment provider will want to see the quality work you have undertaken prior to commencing your next review.
Take Advantage of the Mid-Cycle Visit Offered by QICSA
It is always preferable to receive a visit from QICSA after you have submitted your quality work plan for the mid cycle review, to assist you with your preparation for the next review.
Changing to a new provider
The majority of organisations that were in scope of HASS will also be in scope of the new DHS Standards. Along with this change in standards, it is envisaged that the sector will be able to choose from a panel of providers to undertake their accreditation reviews after July 1 2012.
Currently organisations are accredited against HASS, HASS+ or HASS in QIC. So far, the homelessness assistance and family violence funded sector has had only one service provider to choose from for their accreditation review for these funded programs (Quality Improvement and Community Services Accreditation or QICSA).
Organisations will now be accredited against the DHS Standards for service delivery after July 1 2012. They will also need to be accredited against corporate and management standards, unless they have an exemption (e.g. housing registration status). The type of corporate and management standards chosen will depend on the assessment provider selected. Once you have chosen a provider you will be required to attain accreditation against the corporate and management standards that the new provider uses, as well as using the same provider to gain accreditation against the DHS Standards.
This next phase of accreditation is an opportunity to revise your review methodology against your organisation’s needs. This will mean examining information provided by DHS, when it is issued; regarding the assessment bodies on the panel and the methodology they use to review services. You will then be able to advise your board and staff on what is the best course of action to take for your organisation.
Bear in mind that a change of provider will not change the general requirement for quality work currently being undertaken within your organization. If you decide to change assessment provider from QICSA, the new assessment provider will want to see the quality work you have undertaken prior to commencing your next review.
If you would like further clarification on the new process after July 1, 2012, please contact timothy.wilmot@dhs.vic.gov.au or sophie.buffey@dhs.vic.gov.au in DHS Corporate Services.
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