Human Services Standards, Victoria

Human Services Standards, Victoria

Ensuring high-quality service provision
to consumers, no matter the provider

The Human Services Standards is owned by the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), and represent a single set of service quality standards for department funded service providers and department-managed services in Victoria.

The Human Services Standards focus on quality service delivery. On 1 July 2012, the Human Services Standards replaced the former program-specific standards: Standards for Disability Services in Victoria, Registration Standards for Community Service Organisations and Homelessness Assistance Services Standards.

Organisations in scope for independent review are required to be accredited by a DFFH-endorsed Independent Review Body (IRB) once every three years. The standards and independent review process seek to ensure that people experience the same quality of service no matter which service provider they access. Where service providers are in scope for external assessment, in addition to assessment against the Human Services Standards, the provider will be assessed using a set of governance and management standards provided by the reviewing body.

To achieve accreditation, organisations must demonstrate compliance with the Standards and the corporate and management standards of their selected IRB. Independent review processes include assessment of documentary evidence.

QIP is a Department of Families, Fairness and Housing endorsed Independent Review Body and is committed to supporting service providers throughout the accreditation process.

Download QIP's Human Services Standards brochure here

Service delivery standards

The Human Services Standards represent a single set of service quality standards for organisations delivering services to clients, summarised as:

  • Empowerment: People’s rights are promoted and upheld.
  • Access and Engagement: People’s right to access transparent, equitable and integrated services is promoted and upheld.
  • Well being: People’s right to well being and safety is promoted and upheld.
  • Participation: People’s right to choice, decision making and to actively participate as a valued member of their chosen community is promoted and upheld.

A total of 16 criteria further articulate the Human Services Standards. The Human Services Standards evidence guide lists evidence indicators for each criterion, along with examples of evidence relevant to each indicator.

Who requires accreditation against the Human Services Standards?

The Human Services Standards policy sets out the requirements for department-funded service providers receiving funding in scope of the standards and registration under the Disability Act 2006 and/or Children, Youth and Families Act 2005. All service providers that are funded by the DFFH to provide services to clients are required to meet the Standards. A further outline is:

  • DFFH-funded organisations that receive ongoing funding to deliver direct client services are in scope for independent review.
  • Organisations that receive more than $200k in total DFFH funding annually for advice, information, referral and/or services which provide goods, aids and equipment are in scope for independent review.
  • DFFH-funded organisations that have no direct relationship with clients (for example, research organisations or peak bodies) will not need to be accredited or reviewed against Standards.
  • Funded organisations that provide direct client services and receive less than $100k in total DFFH funding are in scope for independent review. Organisations may discuss with the DFFH whether they may undertake a self-assessment process instead of an independent assessment.

This information was correct at the time of upload and taken directly from the Human Services Standards Policy. Refer to the Policy for specific details regarding DFFH requirements.

Accreditation with QIP

To ensure a streamlined quality improvement journey, the QIP accreditation process against the Human Services Standards is as follows:

How QIP supports organisations

Tailored support

QIP has trained QIP Client Liaison Teams on hand to answer any questions clients may have about their accreditation, certification or verification. With expert knowledge of each of the standards or frameworks, evidence requirements and the self-assessment process, QIP’s Client Liaison Teams provide clients with on-going advice throughout their cycle.

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QIP’s accreditation hub

The QIP accreditation hub is an online platform tailored to each client’s individual accreditation timelines and framework requirements. It includes a personalised action plan, a resource library and a number of other features to support clients throughout their accreditation journey.

Access to AccreditationPro

QIP’s online self-assessment software, known as AccreditationPro, streamlines accreditation preparation by helping clients determine their organisation’s compliance with an applicable set of Standards.

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Access to online resources and education

QIP’s online Education and Resource Library, provides clients with access to a range of practical, informative and customisable resources to support organisations in complying with the relevant industry Standards.

Regular news and e-newsletters

Stay up-to-date with industry and organisational news, helpful tips and your standards information with QIP communications including periodical e-newsletters advising of any changes to processes, systems, standards or evidence requirements are released.

Highly trained assessment teams

QIP’s Assessors are highly trained and qualified peer assessors who work across the Australian health, community and human services sectors. Our team will share their knowledge and support organisations through the accreditation assessment.

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Celebrating the achievement of accreditation

Achieving QIP accreditation takes dedication, team work and a commitment to continuous quality improvement. When organisations achieve their accredited, certificated or verified status, they are provided with their own 'Promotional Toolkit' filled with a number of materials to celebrate and promote this achievement.

The QIP Accredited Symbol is one way consumers and local community can be reassured that an organisation has been recognised for their commitment to delivering a safe and quality-focused service.

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Become part of our online community

Join us on social media to celebrate organisation achievements made within the health, community and human services sectors and to be kept up-to-date with the latest industry news and events, including QIP and AGPAL updates.

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Contact QIP to register for accreditation

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