Quality Accreditation

Quality Improvement Council (QIC) Standards
The QIC standards are used by MCHS to provide a framework for assessing and improving quality. The core concepts that provide the framework for the QIC standards are;

• The value of continuous quality improvement to enhance a service's capacity to deliver more efficient and effective outcomes for its consumers and communities.
• Participative decision-making involving consumers, staff and other stakeholders in service planning, programs and evaluations.
• A population focus which considers the capacity of the service to contribute to meeting the main needs of the community of interest.
• The importance of working collaboratively with other service providers, funding bodies and sectors to ensure both continuity of care and optimum service planning and delivery.
• A commitment to ensuring services are provided on the basis of prioritised needs taking account of physical, economic, geographical, cultural and other barriers that people may encounter.
• A commitment to services being accessible to available to and appropriate for individuals and communities of interest.
• Accountability to consumers, the community of interest, funders and/or purchases and other stakeholders through efficient and effective management practices.

Quality Improvement & Community Services Accreditation (QICSA)
MCHS successfully achieved accreditation in August 2006. At this time, we were awarded accreditation as we met each of the CORE, Primary Health Care and Home Based Care standards. We achieved a Leading Practice rating for the CORE standard 2.2 Focussing on positive outcomes. Recommendations from this review formed the basis of our organisational Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) plan for 2006 – 2009.

Our next review will be held within the next 12 months and will include a review against the following standards:

• The Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Services Sector (PDRSS) standards
• Home and Community Care (HACC) standards
• The Community Service Organisation Registration Standards relating to Children, Youth and Family services.

MCHS is involved with other service specific accreditation and registration processes, including:

• Community Care Quality Reporting - The National Respite for Carers Program and Community Aged Care Package. 
• Quality Framework for Disability Services in Victoria.