FACS-ADHC news: NSW Disability Services Standards Statewide Training

Published 1st November 2013

NSW Disability Services Standards Statewide Training

What

There are significant changes occurring in the disability sector under Stronger Together 2 and the Living Life My Way Framework which will guide the expansion of opportunities for people with disability to exercise choice and control over their supports as NSW transitions to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Improving the quality of services is fundamental to the shift to person centred and life span approaches where people will be offered more choice and flexibility in their supports.

The NSW Disability Services Standards (NSW DSS) form the basis of Ageing Disability and Home Care’s (ADHC’s) Quality Framework and have been updated to reflect contemporary practice and provide guidance as you make the transition to person centred service delivery and individualised funding arrangements.

New quality requirements for ADHC funded service providers are set out in the current Funding Agreement. These requirements are to be implemented by service providers between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2015 and include implementing a quality management system where you don’t already have one; undertaking third party verification to verify compliance with the NSW DSS; and complying with ADHC’s Quality Policy for ADHC funded services which provides detail about what ADHC expects.

To assist you to implement the new quality requirements, ADHC is offering training for organisations on the NSW DSS.

Who

ADHC funded providers. The training is targeted at CEO and equivalent level officers in each organisation and/or staff involved in the development of Quality activities. There is a limit of two representatives from each organisation.

Where and when

The dates and locations of the training are:

o    Wednesday, 13 November 2013 – Sydney CBD
o    Friday, 15 November 2013 – Penrith
o    Monday, 18 November 2013 – Parramatta
o    Tuesday, 19 November 2013 – Campbelltown
o    Wednesday, 20 November 2013 – Chatswood
o    Wednesday, 27 November 2013 – Port Macquarie
o    Thursday, 28 November 2013 – Tamworth
o    Wednesday, 27 November 2013 – Lismore
o    Thursday, 28 November 2013 – Coffs Harbour
o    Tuesday, 4 February 2014 – Wollongong
o    Wednesday, 5 February 2014 – Batemans Bay
o    Tuesday, 11 February 2014 – Wagga Wagga
o    Wednesday, 12 February 2014 – Albury
o    Tuesday, 18 February 2014 – Orange
o    Wednesday, 19 February 2014 – Bathurst
o    Tuesday, 25 February 2014 – Newcastle/Gosford (TBC)

Next Steps

To ensure your organisation’s place at one of these training sessions please register for your preferred training session using the online registration system here.

Catering will be provided. Please provide details of any special requirements (including dietary and mobility access requirements) when you complete your online registration. Once your registration has been submitted you will be contacted within 5 working days with a confirmation of venue details, training time and agenda.

If you require further information on the NSW DSS Statewide training please contact Ms Alicia Kahale, Project Manager of the Nous Group, on 02 8281 8028 or e-mail .

If you have any enquiries regarding the Quality requirements under your Funding Agreement please contact the Quality and Safeguards Unit, ADHC on 02 9377 6016 or e-mail .

Update:

Please note that the Quality policy for ADHC funded services has been updated. The policy is currently being uploaded to the ADHC website. You can access a copy of the policy here. Relevant changes to the policy will be covered in the training.