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Implemented in 2009, the Quality and Safety Framework for Tasmania’s Department of Health Funded Community Sector (the Framework) is to support funded CSOs to have systems and processes in place to deliver safe, high-quality services to Tasmanians. The Framework aims to support the following outcomes:
- High quality and safe services for Tasmanians through continual improvement of service delivery.
- Service systems and processes are enhanced using recognised evidence bases (such as standards).
- A culture of continuous improvement within the sector that is supported by, and inclusive of, all stakeholders.
- Minimising regulatory and administrative burden.
- Consumers, CSOs and DHHS work in partnership to enhance service delivery.
- The common goals and priorities of the Partnership Agreement are being contributed to.
- Consumers, the community and Government have confidence that DHHS funded CSOs are delivering safe and high-quality services.
- Learnings, both at the CSO and sector level, are used in planning and development activities
Where to get more information
- Download the Quality and Safety Framework
- Download the Quality and Safety Framework Fact Sheet
- Download the Changes to Quality and Safety
Quality and Safety Standards
The Quality and Safety Standards:
- establish a common language which defines quality and safety
- actively contributes towards ensuring that products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently performed at an effective and sustainable level.
The Standards provide:
- the expectations of a service or product
- the foundation of continuous improvement
- the requirement for the protection of safety and human rights; thereby maximising safety for consumers and services providers
- a foundation for measuring performance
- the basis for feedback and evaluation of consumer outcomes; and
- accountability against a range of legislative and regulatory requirements, social expectation, human rights and evidence-based practice.
Where to get more information
Standards and Performance Pathways
The Standards and Performance Pathways (SPP) is an online system for CSOs to completing self-assessments and compliance activities related to service and quality standards.
SPP provides online assessments against criteria for all components of relevant Australian community services standards including:
- immediate results following assessment (what you need to do)
- guided activities, tools and resources (building skills internally)
- an electronic work plan linking actions to guided activities and tools
- an electronic 'evidence pack' (upload and compliance levels at a glance)
- multiple standards (cross references and completes other relevant standards set).
For more information about SPP, please visit the TASCOSS website.
Consumer-Related Reportable Incidents
Incidents occur in all health and human service systems. As such, CSOs have a responsibility to provide and maintain a safe service-delivery environment (as far as is reasonably practicable).
- The purpose of this policy is to ensure a coordinated approach to the management and notification of reportable consumer-related incidents.
- It also ensures that learnings are implemented to minimise the potential of recurrence.
- The requirements of this policy are referenced within the Funding Instrument between the Department and the community sector organisation.
- This policy and supporting documentation do not override or replace legislative reporting requirements.
- The policy and procedure documents must be read in conjunction with each other.
- Reporting of Special Circumstances clause contained within the Funding Agreement and/or the Notice by Recipient of Adverse Matters clause in the Grant Deed between the Director of Housing and the Organisation.
Where to get more information
- Download the Consumer Related Reportable Incident Policy SDMS ID Number: P17/000629
- Download the Consumer Related Reportable Incident Procedure SDMS ID Number: P17/000629
- Download the Consumer Related Reportable Incident Form (Word)
- Download the Consumer Related Reportable Incident Form (PDF)
Community sector mergers, takeovers and acquisitions
- Mergers, takeovers and acquisitions within the community sector are normal and expected.
- They occur as organisations make business decisions in response to changing service delivery and financial environments.
- While we aim to work collaboratively with Community Sector Organisations (CSOs) to support them to deliver services and outcomes in accordance with their Funding Agreements, as independent entities, CSOs make their own decisions and run their organisations as they deem appropriate.
- When a CSO funded under our Central Grants Program is involved in a merger or acquisition, we will offer support and practical advice to assist through this process without interfering in business decisions or applying scrutiny beyond what is necessary to ensure the interests of the funder and the consumer are maintained.
- As a key stakeholder, we have a role in monitoring the impact of a merger or acquisition on funded services and the consumers of those services. The level of this involvement will depend on the individual circumstances and risks of each case.
Download the Community Sector – Mergers, Takeovers and Acquisitions Fact Sheet
Where to get more information
For more information and advice, please refer to the following resources:
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