Certification Cycle

The steps of the three-year Certification Cycle are:

1. Registration, application and Preliminary Documentation Review

After registration of your interest, IHCA Certification will submit a proposal and scale of fees. You then submit your formal application for certification. The decision to proceed with the audit is based on a review of the documentation. Documentation including, for example, information related to your organisations policies and procedures relevant to your Quality Management system will be requested prior to the audit.

For audits conducted under the ISO 9001:2008 Standards this documentation will be required as part of a formal Stage 1 audit which will usually involve a visit to your organisation.

2. Initiating the audit and one-off assessment (Optional)

IHCA Certification is able to advise your organisation on assessment and certification options and offer the services of an industry-experienced Auditor to assess the state of the organisation's readiness for the certification audit. A detailed written report is provided describing, for example, where the organisation has weaknesses in meeting the requirements of the Standards.

3. Organisation self assessment and internal audit

This process is self-initiated and requires you to undertake a self-evaluation of our organisation's readiness to proceed with the certification audit. For those organisations that have completed a pre-audit assessment, the Lead Auditor's report will provide some guidance as to whether or not the organisation has addressed the shortcomings identified.

Your organisation should already have in place internal audit/review processes as an integral component of its evaluation framework. These processes provide valuable indicators as to how well the organisation is performing and areas for improvement.

4. External review

The audit, based on the audit plan developed in consultation with your organisation, will involve on-site review of facilities, interviews including, for example, customers, staff, management and stakeholders, examination of documents, observation of work practices and analysis of information. On completion, the audit team provides verbal feedback and develops a written draft report detailing the findings.

5. IHCA Certification report

IHCA Certification submits a written report to your organisation detailing the assessment outcome and evidence on which findings are based. In the case of the Disability Employment Services and Queensland Disability Service Standards, a copy of the report is forwarded to the Department of Family & Community Services or the Department of Communities & Disability Services Queensland.

6. Taking action

Your organisation develops a corrective plan that provides a meaningful framework to develop the cycle of continuous improvement, and to achieve certification against the individual Standards. This plan is based on areas of non-conformity identified through the audit and assessment process.

7. Issue and registration of certification

After completing a successful assessment, your organisation is formally registered by IHCA Certification as meeting the Standards for which you have sought certification.

8. Annual assessment

The annual assessment, surveillance or maintenance audit, as appropriate ensures compliance levels are maintained and the quality of services remains consistent with the standards. Some standards may require more frequent assessment audits.

9. Full reassessment every three years

A formal certification reassessment is required every three years.

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IHCAC 648 V1 09-11-19