Other Accreditation - Process and resources

Evidence of other accreditation or certification

This information is provided to assist organisations funded under a service agreement with the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors (DCDSS) or the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women (DCSYW) that hold existing accreditation or certification under other industry standards or quality systems.

To reduce unnecessary duplication, where an organisation's existing accreditation aligns well with HSQF and is appropriate for the types of services funded by DCDSS and/or DCSYW, organisations can request recognition of their alternative accreditation to demonstrate compliance with HSQF.

Evidence of other accreditation is generally accepted for the service types listed below.

Service Types	Approved alternative accreditation/certification
Seniors legal and support services	National Accreditation Scheme for Community Legal Services
Organisations providing peak body services	ISO 9001
Disability services providing indirect advocacy, information and alternative forms of communication and other support	ISO 9001
Disability services providing advocacy	National Disability Advocacy Program Quality Assurance Program
Organisations that provide training services	Australian Quality Training Framework

Application and Assessment Process

Application process

Organisations wishing to demonstrate compliance with HSQF using other accreditation must have approval to do so. Applications for recognition are considered on a case-by-case basis. Interested organisations should complete the Application for recognition of alternative accreditation under the Human Services Quality Framework (DOCX, 933 KB)form  and submit it with relevant accreditation documents to the Human Services Quality Framework team at hsqf@communities.qld.gov.au for consideration. 

Assessment process

Requests of recognition of alternative accreditation are assessed against a range of factors including:

• degree of alignment between the alternative standards/accreditation with the HSQF
• relevance of the accreditation to the type of services the organisation is funded to provide
• the type and complexity of the services provided
• vulnerability of people using services
• level of funding investment
• any service specific mandatory evidence requirements that may apply to the services provided under the HSQF.

Assessment outcomes

Organisations will be advised in writing of the outcome of their request - there are three possible outcomes:

Assessment outcome	Action
Accepted	The organisation will need to maintain their alternative accreditation for the term of any service agreement with a Queensland Government department. When an alternative accreditation expires, the organisation will need to provide a copy of their new accreditation and related audit/review report to the relevant departmental contract officer. Organisations will not be required to complete a separate self-assessment or independent third-party audit against the HSQF. Note: Where an organisation receives new funding for service types different to those currently provided, a reassessment of the approved alternative accreditation is required.
Partial acceptance	The organisation will need to undertake a 'gap' self-assessment against key requirements (such as legislative or contractual safeguards) specified by HSQF. Organisations will be advised a timeframe for lodgement of the gap self-assessment and a continuous improvement plan
Not accepted	The organisation will need to comply with the required demonstration method - self-assessment or certification. Organisations will be advised a timeframe for completion of these activities.

As a general rule an alternative accreditation will not be accepted where it has been assessed as having limited alignment with the HSQF and/or has no direct application to services in Queensland of a similar type and/or where mandatory service specific requirements apply under the HSQF.

For example, alternative accreditation will not be accepted where an organisation is funded to provide child protection placement services in-scope of licensing or provides disability services subject to restrictive practices.

Streamlining opportunities

Organisations with alternative accreditation that is not accepted may find they can align HSQF audit activities with other audit/review activities. For example the HSQF JAS-ANZ auditing scheme makes it simpler for organisations with othe JAS-ANZ to undergo concurrent audits allowing relevant evidence to be considered once rather than on two separate occasions.

Further information about streamlining audits can be found in the HSQF Scheme Rules available on the JAS-ANZ website.