Strengthening safeguards
Pre-approval of service providers | Criminal history screening | Funding and prescribed requirements | Investigation and monitoringPre-approval of service providers
Under the new Act, non-government service providers must obtain 'approved service provider status' before they can apply for funding from Disability Services Queensland. To gain this, organisations must achieve certification under the Quality System, or give a commitment to implement the system and work towards certification.
The pre-approval process is designed to ensure that service providers have the capacity to provide accountable, sustainable and viable services to people with a disability.
Service providers currently receiving funding are considered 'approved' under the new legislation. However, they will still need to achieve certification by July 2008, in line with the timeframe for implementing the Disability Sector Quality System.
Criminal history screening
Criminal history screening is designed to increase the safety of people with a disability when they are accessing services.
Under the new Act, workers and volunteers in funded non-government disability
services must undergo criminal history screening every two years. The department will conduct this screening in response to applications lodged by service providers and meet the costs.
Disability Services Queensland staff and volunteers will also undergo criminal history checks every two years.
Initial screening of staff in funded non-government disability services will occur between July and December 2006.
It will be unlawful for a person to work or volunteer for a funded non-government service provider without a criminal history check.
People working in funded non-government disability services will be issued with a card that verifies they have had a criminal history check within the past two years and are lawfully able to work or volunteer in these services.
Funding and prescribed requirements
Disability Services Queensland provides funding to non-government service providers under conditions set out in a funding agreement. The new Act provides clearer guidelines about requirements and conditions to be included in funding agreements.
The Act also allows for the development of a regulation specifying basic requirements that will apply to all funded non-government service providers. The regulation has been developed and is available online.
Areas to be covered could include compliance with basic organisational and administrative tasks, such as financial management, as well as requirements for service delivery, such as safeguards to protect people from abuse and neglect.
Investigation and monitoring
Disability Services Queensland and funded non-government service providers will continue to work together to ensure that funding agreements are in place and that requirements for accountability in service delivery are met.
The new legislation gives Disability Services Queensland broader powers (where necessary) to monitor and investigate services funded by the department. Disability Services Queensland will be able to:
- ensure funded non-government service providers comply with funding agreements
- fully investigate and resolve complaints
- take action to ensure the safety of people with a disability receiving funded disability services.
Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a funded non-government service provider is breaching the requirements of the new legislation, the department will be able to enter premises, seek information and ask questions.
The department will also be able to require a service provider to fix any problems and will have the capacity to monitor this process.
Last updated November 2007