Human Services Quality Framework (2012)
The Department of Communities’ Human Services Quality Framework has been endorsed for phased implementation over a three year period from July 2012.
The Human Services Quality Framework will replace the: Queensland Disability Sector Quality System; Queensland Disability Advocacy Standards; Community Services Standards; and the Child Safety Service Standards. Mutual recognition of the framework is currently being negotiated with the Department of Health and Ageing in relation to the Community Care Common Standards.
The Human Services Quality Framework does not contain any new requirements. Organisations, therefore, that have previously been required to comply with one or more of the existing quality frameworks will not have to develop any additional evidence to adopt the framework.
The Human Services Quality Framework contains the following six quality standards:
- governance and management
- service access
- responding to individual need
- safety, wellbeing and rights
- feedback, complaints and appeals
- human resources.
Documents detailing this new framework available from the Human Services Quality Framework [6] page.
Implementation across the Sector will begin in July 2012. During the transition the existing standards, outlined below, will still apply.
Standards for Community Services (2007)
From September 2007, implementation of the Standards for Community Services is a condition of all service agreements between the Department of Communities and funded organisations. These eleven standards outline what is expected of organisations providing services funded by the Department of Communities.
QCOSS Resources for Community Sector Standards [7]
Scroll down for the complete standards framework.
Queensland Disability Service Standards
Implementation of the Disability Sector Quality System began in 2004. This system provides a framework that recognises the importance of providing quality services responsive to the needs of people with a disability. All services delivered or recurrently funded by Disability Services Queensland work through a development cycle towards independent certification against the Queensland Disability Service Standards, Queensland Disability Advocacy Standards or ISO 9001:2000, as appropriate to their service.
For more information, visit www.disability.qld.gov.au/quality [8] or contact the Disability Information Service on 1800 177 120.
Home and Community Care (HACC) National Service Standards
- Queensland Health HACC National Service homepage [9]
- Download the Home and Community Care National Standards Instrument and Guidelines [10]
- Home and Community Care Common Standards [11]
- Preparing for review [12]
National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care
The new National Quality Standard will help services to provide the best possible level of early childhood education and care by being clear about the factors that best support a child’s development.
It will also give services and families confidence in understanding what distinguishes high quality or excellent services.
The new National Quality Standard is divided into seven areas that contribute to the quality of early childhood education and care. These areas have been identified by research and are:
- Educational program and practice
- Children’s health and safety
- Physical environment
- Staffing arrangements (including the number of staff looking after children)
- Relationships with children
- Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- Leadership and service management
Full details available from the DEEWA website [13].
