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HSQF News and updates
October 2020 - New resources and changes to assist organisations
Release of updated core Human Service Quality Framework (HSQF) resources
- New versions of the Quality Framework v7.0 Quality Framework v7.0 and the HSQF User Guide Certification v7.0 HSQF User Guide Certification v7.0 are now available. These take effect from 1 October 2020.
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All organisations should review the Quality Framework V7.0 Quality Framework V7.0 and the Quality Framework - Version Control Register and Log of Changes Quality Framework - Version Control Register and Log of Changes , which outlines the changes since the last version.
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Organisations in scope of certification should review the HSQF User Guide - Certification V7.0 HSQF User Guide - Certification V7.0 and the Certification Version Control Register and Log of Changes Certification Version Control Register and Log of Changes and make updates to their policies, procedures and processes to ensure compliance for audits occurring 1 January 2021 (noting that Blue Card No Card No Start requirements came into full effect from 31 August 2020).
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The Self-Assessment Workbook - Certification Self-Assessment Workbook - Certification Self-Assessment Workbook - Certification (for organisations under certification) has been updated in line with the HSQF User Guide - Certification V7.0 HSQF User Guide - Certification V7.0 .
- New, redesigned HSQF standards standards and easy read booklets easy read booklets and poster are available. These resources can be printed and displayed in your organisation and provided to your service users, board members, staff and volunteers.
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Additional information has been added to the Certification - Quality requirements and resources page about selecting a certification body and raising concerns about the certification process.
- Organisations in-scope of Self-Assessment (except those participating in the trial of the online self-assessment system) can now access, and should review, the HSQF User Guide - Self-Assessable Organisations Version 3.0 HSQF User Guide - Self-Assessable Organisations Version 3.0 , Version Control Register and Log of Changes Version Control Register and Log of Changes and Self-Assessment workbook - Self-Assessable Organisations Self-Assessment workbook - Self-Assessable Organisations Self-Assessment workbook - Self-Assessable Organisations , and make any necessary updates to their policies, procedures and processess. Advice of changes and relevant timeframes has been sent to all relevant organisations.
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Organisations participating in the trial of the online self-assessment system do not need to refer to the new self-assessment documents as their HSQF requirements are contained in the online self-assessment tool.
Other new resources
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A new HSQF Audit Participation factsheet HSQF Audit Participation factsheet provides information for service users about participating in a HSQF audit. Please make this available to people that you are inviting to provide feedback to an auditor or seeking consent from for record/file review.
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Two new reports are available which map the Aged Care Quality Standards Aged Care Quality Standards and the NDIS Practice Standards NDIS Practice Standards against the Human Services Quality Standards.
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Blue Card Services has developed three new factsheets to help services in-scope of the HSQF understand their Blue Card requirements. The new factsheets provide detailed guidance for neighbourhood centres, shelters for adult women and men and executive committee/board members. Access the new factsheets and information about No Card No Start changes at the Blue Card Services website.
Funding increases to assist with certification costs
From 2020-2021, eligible organisations that receive up to $3 million in funding for services in-scope of certification from the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors (DCDSS) and/or the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women (DCSYW) will benefit from an increase in annual funding to assist with certification costs.
Under this new, improved approach, organisations will have funding upfront to meet certification costs and will not need to wait for a one-off audit costs assistance grant. A total of 135 organisations have received a funding increase for certification costs.
Organistations need to accrue the funding to meet the costs of audits, which occur every 18 months. The funding can also be used for other HSQF compliance-related costs.
Further information, including eligiblity criteria, is available in the HSQF Quality Audit Financial Contributions HSQF Quality Audit Financial Contributions factsheet.
Increase in lower funding threshold for demonstrating compliance
To reduce administrative burden for small organisations, the lower funding threshold for demonstrating HSQF compliance has been increased from $24,000 up to $100,000 per annum.
Organisations that receive DCDSS and DCSYW funding under this threshold are no longer required to submit a self-assessment or accreditation under other standards.
Small organisations are however, still required to deliver their services in line with the Human Service Quality Standards and can continue to access information on the HSQF website.
Further information is available at the Self-Assessable - Quality requirements and resources page or in the Quality Framework V7.0. Quality Framework V7.0.
- Last reviewed
- 18 June 2019
- Last modified
- 21 October 2020
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence