Independent monitoring of disability service providers
Independent monitoring is a process to verify if disability service providers, both department-managed and community service organisations, meet the relevant performance measures in respect of the Standards for Disability Services in Victoria (the Standards).
Statewide application of independent monitoring
Statewide application of independent monitoring commenced in March 2010. Disability service providers can now engage a certification body to conduct their certification audit.
All disability service providers are required to undertake a certification audit by 30 June 2012, and be certified compliant by 31 December 2012.
For further information, view the Independent monitoring fact sheets available on the Quality Framework fact sheets webpage, or contact your Program and Service Adviser (PASA).
Independent monitoring policy
An independent monitoring of disability service providers policy has been developed to identify the context, objectives, principles and definitions of independent monitoring.
Procedure 34
Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of disability service providers in Victoria (Procedure 34) specifies the rules that governs the audit process. The primary user of this document is certification bodies however, disability service providers are encouraged to become familiar with this document. Procedure 34 is available to download from the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand website.
Independent monitoring processes for disability service providers
Supporting documentation to Procedure 34 and the independent monitoring policy has been developed.
Independent monitoring processes for disability service providers outlines procedural and process requirements for disability service providers participating in independent monitoring.
Independent monitoring demonstration project
The Department of Human Services (department) has engaged the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) to oversee the development and application of a third party audit and certification system, known as independent monitoring.
JAS-ANZ established a technical committee with stakeholders represented, including service providers and service users. This committee developed Procedure 34 that describes the way an audit must be conducted.
The technical committee was convened in 2008 and developed the version of Procedure 34 applied in the independent monitoring demonstration project.
The May 2009 version of Procedure 34, which is watermarked 'Demonstration project' was only applicable for use in the demonstration project.
Visit the Independent monitoring demonstration project webpage for a copy of the Evaluation of the demonstration project report and department's response to the report recommendations.
Independent monitoring digital stories
Three digital stories have been developed to enable disability service providers to learn from the experiences of the independent monitoring demonstration project participants.
One DHS Standards project
The department is committed to reducing the regulatory burden on service providers by integrating standards and accreditation processes across the three DHS service delivery programs – disability services, children youth and families, and housing and community building. The One DHS Standards project has been established to achieve this goal.
For further information about this project view the One DHS Standards fact sheets on the Quality Framework fact sheets page.
Learn more - Independent monitoring
- Easy read format is available in 'Book 6 - Auditors check service providers'.
- Audit information for services users either in residential services or a disability service - easy read format templates for disability service providers to adapt to inform their service users about an upcoming audit.
