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About the Quality Framework

 

Disability service providers have used the Quality Framework to assess their services and plan for improvement since 1997. The Disability Act 2006 made compliance with the Standards a requirement under Victorian law. At the same time the Quality Framework was revised to better meet the goals of the State Disability Plan 2002-2012.

Information on this page:

What is the Quality Framework?

The Quality Framework makes sure that services and supports for people with a disability are regularly reviewed, meet agreed standards and are constantly being improved. It promotes a culture of quality and continuous improvement across the disability sector.

Effective implementation of the Quality Framework will assist service providers to support people with a disability to experience the same outcomes that are valued by the broader Victorian community.

Quality Framework for Disability Services in Victoria - Better services, better outcomes, stronger communities (PDF 160 KB) - this policy document provides an overview of the legislative and policy contents for the delivery of quality services that support improved outcomes for people with a disability.

The  Standards for Disability Services in Victoria A3 poster (PDF 2.7 mb) forms part of the Quality Framework policy document.

Download the Quality Framework policy document in alternate formats:

What are the underlying principles?

The underlying principles behind any quality framework stem from the origins of the word 'quality' - a standard of excellence. People are at the centre of how quality of service provision is defined, and quality management makes sure that organisations use good practices and processes to deliver services. Practices and processes need to be monitored and modified to make sure the best outcomes are delivered to the people who need the services.

The Quality Framework uses internationally recognised quality management principles, which are tailored to assist in the management of disability services and supports.

Learn more about quality - see the Quality basics webpage

Why the Quality Framework was revised

The Victorian Quality Framework for Disability Services (1997) was revised to support one of the Victorian State Disability Plan's (2002-2012) five priority strategies - to develop stronger foundations for disability service provision.

As part of the review, Quality in Practice Background reports were developed to provide information about the revision and how it was tested. The Quality Framework Steering Committee was also established to provide advice and expertise on the implementation of the Quality Framework.

Learn more -

Who the Quality Framework is for

Funded disability service providers in Victoria are expected to have started working towards compliance with the Standards from July 2007. As part of a staged approach to implementation, independent monitoring for compliance against the Standards will be introduced in 2009.

Other government agencies and community services and supports may also use the Standards as a guide. The Standards help identify and address some of the barriers and circumstances that prevent people with a disability from fully participating in the life of the Victorian community.

How the Quality Framework operates in practice

The Quality Framework is underpinned by a set of principles that requires disability service providers to:

  • Focus on people who use services and supports
  • Involve support users and staff
  • Take a systems approach
  • Make decisions based on facts, feedback and evidence
  • Provide leadership
  • Use a process approach
  • Encourage continuous quality improvement
  • Work with other agencies and the community.

By using a range of quality management tools, disability service providers will measure the quality of their practice by gathering data against evidence indicators that describe:

  • Areas of life that are important to people
  • Areas of good practice that are important to organisations.

The evidence indicators include:

  • Indicators that describe compliance with the Standards
  • Developmental indicators that describe examples of continuous quality improvement.

When disability service providers effectively collect and analyse this data, the results can be used to improve organisational processes to better support people to achieve high quality outcomes.

 The circular image depicts a quality cycle of defining and measuring quality, which assists in achieving better outcomes for people with a disability and ensures service providers' compliance against the standards.

Learn more -

 

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