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22<br />
quality<br />
assurance<br />
and<br />
compliance<br />
REPORT<br />
Ellen McFarlane<br />
Quality Assurance<br />
and Compliance Manager<br />
The working life of a quality<br />
manager is often seen as<br />
uneventful, but not at <strong>NADO</strong>!<br />
From the moment I commenced<br />
in November as the first official<br />
Quality Manager, it was clear<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> holds a firm commitment to<br />
quality, compliance and continuous<br />
improvement. We launched straight<br />
into the new format NDIS quality<br />
and safeguards mid-term audit and<br />
demonstrated capable systems with<br />
no non-compliances but had room<br />
for some improvements. Measuring<br />
the safety and effectiveness of our<br />
services is demonstrated at these<br />
audits and a successful result is<br />
required for NDIS registration.<br />
Demonstrating a focus on<br />
participant safety, we developed<br />
new processes for documenting<br />
participant risk information,<br />
investigating critical incidents, and<br />
reviewing incidents at the new<br />
Clinical Incident Review Panel.<br />
Introduction of these new processes<br />
included broad consultation, new<br />
forms, team trainings, audit of<br />
progress and ongoing support<br />
to ensure key staff gain a full<br />
understanding of the processes.<br />
A number of exciting new projects<br />
are under development: updating<br />
policy formats, moving policies<br />
to a web-based platform for all<br />
staff to access, implementing an<br />
audit framework, investigating<br />
use of electronic signatures on<br />
documentation, and providing<br />
secure off-site access to key<br />
participant risk documentation for<br />
programs conducted in community<br />
settings.<br />
We continue to provide monthly<br />
reviews of key governance<br />
information such as complaints/<br />
compliments, conflicts of interest,<br />
risk register and incidents analysis<br />
for the Board and Management.<br />
During the year, a total of eleven<br />
policies were reviewed, and future<br />
reviews will be conducted in line<br />
with the Policy Register schedule or<br />
as required.<br />
Compliance with NDIS, NSW<br />
Health, ASIC, ACNC and other<br />
reporting requirements is ongoing.<br />
We receive regular updates from<br />
industry bodies, associations and<br />
disability services that enable<br />
<strong>NADO</strong> to keep up to date with risk<br />
management, requirements and<br />
emerging issues.<br />
It has been my privilege to<br />
join and work with a cohesive,<br />
communicative and caring team<br />
who respect the people we serve –<br />
participants – at every step of every<br />
process, as well as their colleagues,<br />
community and other stakeholders.
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