Human Services Quality Framework Standard 1 Governance and Management

Insert name of organisation

Policy: Continuous Improvement

Policy number: Date adopted:

Authorised by:

Date last reviewed: Reviewed by insert name of officer, position title

Date of next review:

Refer to Section 6 below for information on the process for policy review.

Policy context: This policy relates to:

Human Services Quality Framework Standard 1 – Governance & ManagementIndicator 4: The organisation’s management systems are clearly defined, documented and monitored and (where appropriate) communicated including finance, assets and risk.Indicator 5: Mechanisms for continuous improvement are demonstrated in organisational management and service delivery processes.

Other standards Insert other accreditation systems that apply

Legislation or other requirements Insert legislation that applies

1. Purpose: Why do we have a Continuous Improvement policy?A Continuous Improvement Policy guides how we constantly assess our organisation and our services to ensure that we are providing the best possible quality of services to our clients and the most efficient and accountable management practices.

Services are provided in a constantly changing environment and we also need to ensure that our organisation maintains necessary compliance with these changes.

We also need to manage risks to our organisation, services, clients and staff. While this is covered in a separate policy, acting to address identified risks also forms part of the Continuous Improvement process.

You may wish to write your own purpose statement for your organisation. Otherwise, refer to section 1 of the Continuous Improvement template guide for questions to consider when customising this section.

2. ScopeThis policy will apply toIndicate which aspects of the organisation’s activities the policy will apply toAre there any limits or conditions on the way the policy applies to some aspects?

Refer to section 2 of the continuous improvement policy template guide for examples to consider when completing this section.

3. Policy statement: Our commitmentInsert organisation name is committed to continuously improving all aspects of its operations with the aim of delivering the best possible services to service users.

Specifically, we will:

1

Human Services Quality Framework Standard 1 Governance and Management

What will your organisation do to implement this policy? List your actions below

Your organisation may wish to develop its own policy statement. Otherwise, refer to section 3 of the Continuous Improvement policy template guide for examples to consider when customising this section.

4. Procedures

4.1 Continuous Improvement Plan

What information will your Continuous Improvement Plan include?Who is responsible for creating and maintaining the Plan?

Refer to section 4.1 of the continuous improvement template guide for examples to consider when completing this section.

4.2 Identifying Improvements Needed

How will you identify improvements that are needed? What sources of information will you use?How is this information collected and how often?Who is responsible for collecting and collating this information?

Refer to section 4.2 of the continuous improvement policy template guide for examples to consider when completing this section.

4.3 Implementing Improvements

Provide details of the kinds of actions improvements may includeHow will they be implemented?How will you advise relevant stakeholders of actions taken or changes made?

Refer to section 4.3 of the continuous improvement policy template guide for examples to consider when completing this section.

4.4 Recording and Reporting on Improvements

How are improvements recorded on the Continuous Improvement Plan?How do you track sources of information to ensure that they have been recorded in the Plan?Provide details of any reporting on actions taken and the outcomes.

Refer to section 4.4 of the continuous improvement policy template guide for examples to consider when completing this section.

5. Other related policies and procedures

Documents related to this policy

Related policies List related policies

Forms or other organisational documents

List other organisational documents

Refer to section 5 of the continuous improvement policy template guide for examples to consider when completing this section.

2

Human Services Quality Framework Standard 1 Governance and Management

6. Review processes

Policy review frequency: Indicate how often this policy will be reviewed

Responsibility for review: Indicate who will review the policy

Review process: Describe how the policy will be reviewed

Documentation and communication: Describe how the policy decisions will be documented and communicated

Refer to section 6 of the continuous improvement policy template guide for examples to consider when completing this section.

3