Is QICSA right for your
organisation?
In making your decision, you should be aware
that QICSA:
|
Uses QIC standards that have been
developed in Australia, for and by the health
and community services sector |
|
Promotes a systems and evidence based
approach, whereby assessments are based
on evidence that appropriate systems are in
place |
|
Reviews organisations using professionally
trained peer review teams |
|
Is not just an accreditation program, it also
places great emphasis on supporting
organisations to participate in ongoing
continuous quality improvement (CQI) |
|
Provides a high level of support and
resourcing to organisations including
individualised site-based support and a
password protected electronic database of
resource materials |
|
Charges a relatively low annual fee, which is
initially based on the size and complexity of
the organisation and the number of sites |
Making the decision
As a starting point, the QICSA fact sheets will
provide some useful information. Once you have
read them, however, you may still have some
questions. Contact the QICSA Director, to discuss
your organisation’s requirements and to clarify
any issues about the services that QICSA provides
telephone: 03 9479 3983 or email:
qicsa@latrobe.edu.au
We will be happy to provide you with a quotation.
If the terms are agreeable to your organisation,
you will be asked to formalise your commitment
by signing an agreement, which outlines your
organisation’s entitlements, and both QICSA’s
and your organisation’s responsibilities.
Once the decision is made
Once the decision is made and both parties have
signed a formal agreement, an invoice will be
forwarded to your organisation. At this time, the
participating organisation must nominate an
appropriate staff member to take on the role of
internal contact and notify QICSA of full contact
details. An organisation should appoint someone
who has sufficient authority to effectively oversee
the entire quality cycle. Fact Sheet 5 provides
more information about the internal contact role.
Once your organisation has paid its fees, it will
receive a password that provides all staff
members with access to QICSA’s electronic
database of resource materials. Your
membership fee also entitles your organisation to
one hard copy of the QIC standards against
which your organisation will be accredited.
Additional copies need to be purchased
separately.
It is important that all staff members, board
members and stakeholders become familiar with
the QIC standards and the available resources.
To assist with this process, QICSA provides the
following face-to-face support:
|
All organisations are entitled to a free
introductory session about QICSA either
before or after the quotation is prepared. |
|
All organisations receive a “getting started”
support visit from an experienced review
manager to assist in commencing the
preparation for accreditation. |
|
All staff members of participating
organisations are entitled to attend at no
charge QICSA’s organisational and
professional development program |
What is the process?
The review cycle incorporates the following:
| 1. |
Internal review: the organisation completes a
quality journal (written self-assessment) using a
cross-disciplinary collaborative process of
evidence gathering. |
| 2. |
External review: a team of QICSA external
reviewers conduct an accreditation review. |
| 3. |
Feedback: the review team provides the
organisation with feedback about the
external review findings, with the opportunity
for discussion. |
| 4. |
Taking action: the organisation develops and
implements a quality workplan, based on
recommendations from the external review
findings; and regularly reports progress to
QICSA. |
|
