Accreditation for residential services

Accreditation is a detailed assessment by the service provider and the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy of how well the registered residential service meets the accreditation standards.

You need to apply for accreditation within 3 months of registering your residential service.

To obtain accreditation, you must show that your residential service meets the minimum standards for each accreditation level in the Residential Services (Accreditation) Regulation 2018.

Levels of accreditation for residential services

You can apply for 3 levels of accreditation. All providers are required to apply for Level 1.

Accommodation service – Level 1 (compulsory)

Level 1 relates to a resident's right to:

• privacy and independence
• individual resident agreements
• appropriate record keeping
• protection from abuse and neglect
• grievance mechanisms
• adequate goods and equipment
• access to external professional service providers
• cleanliness and maintenance
• appropriate security and emergency measures
• appropriate business and work health and safety practices
• human resource management and staff training.

Food service – Level 2

Level 2 relates to a resident's right to:

• nutritious food
• safe and hygienic delivery of food, storage, preparation and service
• kitchen and dining facilities that meet minimum requirements.

If you apply for Level 2 accreditation (food service), the local council must confirm that you are meeting your obligations under the food hygiene legislation.

Personal care service – Level 3

Level 3 relates to a resident's access to:

• external support services
• accountable financial and clerical support
• medication management and health care
• help with clothing and hygiene management
• the living environment
• leisure activities
• social networking
• participation in decision-making processes.

Applying for accreditation

Once you have registered your residential service, we will send you an accreditation application kit, which includes a self-assessment checklist and a list of required documents.

To apply for accreditation, you must:

• complete an application for accreditation of a residential service (PDF, 292KB)
• complete and attach the self-assessment checklist and associated documents
• pay the application fee of $34.80 per resident being accommodated at the time of application.
  You can pay the registration fee online or attach a money order or cheque to your application.

Lodge your application by:

• email regulatoryservices@chde.qld.gov.au
• or
• mail to:
  
  Regulatory Services
  PO Box 690
  BRISBANE  QLD  4001

Regulatory Services will:

• assess your application to check it is completed with the relevant documents attached
• coordinate and conduct an accreditation site audit
• make accreditation decisions based on the findings of the site audit and evidence provided to meet each accreditation standard
• make the decision to grant accreditation for a period up to 3 years.

Conditions may be imposed if considered appropriate or we may refuse to accredit your residential service or accredit a level of service.

If your application for accreditation is successful

If your accreditation is granted, you will receive an accreditation certificate that must be placed in an area where residents can see it.

If your application for accreditation is not successful

If your accreditation is refused, you will receive a notice explaining why your application was not successful.

If you disagree with the accreditation decision, you have 28 days to apply to Regulatory Services for a review of the decision.

Your decision notice outlines how to apply for a review. This includes completing an application for review of decision form (PDF, 114KB).

If you disagree with the review decision, you can apply for a hearing with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

If you do not apply for accreditation in time or fail accreditation, then your residential service will be automatically de-registered and must stop operating as a residential service.

It is important to note that if the Level 2 or Level 3 component of your accreditation is refused then you can no longer provide that service. You can continue to operate at a lower level, except if it is an aged rental residential service. If accreditation of a Level 1 service is refused, registration is automatically cancelled, and you cannot operate a residential service.

Renewing accreditation

You must lodge an application to renew your accreditation before the accreditation period expires, but not more than 3 months before the expiry date.

Your registration will be automatically cancelled if you do not apply for renewal of your accreditation before the accreditation period expires.

If your residential service meets all the standards, renewal of your accreditation can be granted for up to 3 years. If your residential service does not meet all the standards, renewal of accreditation can be granted for a period ranging from 6 months to 2.5 years, but with conditions. To renew your accreditation you must:

• complete and sign the application for renewal of accreditation of residential service form (PDF, 285KB)
• pay a fee for accreditation of $34.80 per resident being accommodated at the time the application is made
• provide a certified copy of proof of identification (i.e. a driver licence, birth certificate or extract, or passport) for each service provider and associate involved in the operation of the residential service
• pay a fee ($40.15 (incl. GST)) for a criminal history check for each service provider and associate involved in the operation of the residential service
• provide a Building Compliance Notice for Queensland Development Code that meets the requirements of the MP 5.7 – Residential Services Building Standard (PDF, 312KB) and that has been issued within the last 12 months by the local council
• provide an up-to-date copy of the Fire safety management plan, including evacuation drill records and maintenance of fire safety equipment records
• provide documentation that reflects any amended or new processes since the last accreditation.

If you need more information about residential service accreditation, you can:

• email regulatoryservices@chde.qld.gov.au
• phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
• contact Regulatory Services on (07) 3013 2666.

Also consider...

• Find out more about residential services accreditation and renewal through the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS).
• Find out about the Building Act 1975 regulations.
• Read the healthy eating in supported accommodation toolkit.