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Assessment to the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards

Accreditation provides assurances to service users that a digital mental health service provider meets expected standards for safety and quality. Accreditation is a formal process in which trained independent reviewers assess a service provider’s evidence of implementation of the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards.

Approved accrediting agencies

The Commission approves accrediting agencies to assess digital mental health service providers to the NSQDMH Standards under the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme. These agencies are approved by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) following application and review by an approval panel.

Digital mental health service providers need to engage an approved accrediting agency to conduct their assessment to the NSQDMH Standards. As at October 2022, the following agencies are approved to assess health service organisations to the specified sets of standards.

Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS)

5 Macarthur Street
Ultimo NSW 2007
Phone: 02 9281 9955
Website | Email

Approved to assess health service organisations to:

  • National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards
  • National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Second Edition
  • Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module (MPS Module)

HDAA Australia Pty Ltd

PO Box 365
North Lakes QLD 4509
Free Phone: 1800 601 696
Phone: 07 3491 6878
Website | Email

Approved to assess health service organisations to:

  • National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards
  • National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Second Edition
  • Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module (MPS Module)

Institute for Healthy Communities Australia Certification (IHCAC) Pty Ltd

PO Box 5582
West End QLD 4101
Phone: 1800 035 033
Website | Email

Approved to assess health service organisations to:

  • National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards
  • National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Second Edition
  • Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module (MPS Module)

Quality Innovation Performance (QIP) Limited

PO Box 506
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Phone: 1300 888 329
Website | Email

Approved to assess health service organisations to:

  • National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards
  • National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Second Edition
  • Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module (MPS Module)

Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS)

5 Macarthur Street
Ultimo NSW 2007
Phone: 02 9281 9955
Website | Email

Approved to assess health service organisations to:

  • National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards
  • National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Second Edition
  • Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module (MPS Module)

HDAA Australia Pty Ltd

PO Box 365
North Lakes QLD 4509
Free Phone: 1800 601 696
Phone: 07 3491 6878
Website | Email

Approved to assess health service organisations to:

  • National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards
  • National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Second Edition
  • Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module (MPS Module)

Institute for Healthy Communities Australia Certification (IHCAC) Pty Ltd

PO Box 5582
West End QLD 4101
Phone: 1800 035 033
Website | Email

Approved to assess health service organisations to:

  • National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards
  • National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Second Edition
  • Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module (MPS Module)

Quality Innovation Performance (QIP) Limited

PO Box 506
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Phone: 1300 888 329
Website | Email

Approved to assess health service organisations to:

  • National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards
  • National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Second Edition
  • Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module (MPS Module)

Self-assessment

Prior to an assessment taking place, digital mental health service providers are encouraged to undertake a self-assessment of their safety and quality systems, using the Commission’s self-assessment tool. By conducting a self-assessment, providers can identify both areas where their organisation meets the standards and areas where improvement is required.

To find out more about conducting self-assessment against the NSQDMH Standards, please read this fact sheet:

Fact Sheet - Conducting a Self-assessment against the NSQDMH Standards
2021
Fact sheet or brochure

This fact sheet gives digital mental health service providers information on conducting a self-assessment against the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health (NSQDMH) Standards.


Assessment overview

Assessment to the NSQDMH Standards is conducted by an accrediting agency approved by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission). When a digital mental health service provider has entered into a contract for services with an accrediting agency of their choice, the assessment process will involve:

  1. Application – Service providers complete an application for an assessment with an approved accrediting agency.
  2. Preparation – Service providers implement the NSQDMH Standards and work with their accrediting agency to clarify dates, requirements and arrangements for an assessment.
  3. Application for not applicable actions – Where relevant, a service provider may apply to their accrediting agency for relevant actions to be rated ‘not applicable’ at assessment.
  4. Interim assessment ­– The accrediting agency conducts an interim assessment consisting of two stages:
    1. Desktop review – A review of evidence submitted by the service provider to demonstrate conformance to the NSQDMH Standards.
    2. Verification – An assessment, either on-site or virtually, to verify the safety and quality systems described by service provider
  5. Interim Report – The accrediting agency provides a draft assessment report to the service provider within 5 business days.
  6. Remediation period – Where required, a period of 60 business days is allowed for a service provider to address any areas where the service provider does not comply with the requirements in the NSQDMH Standards  
  7. Final assessment – For actions that were not met or met with recommendations at stage 1 and 2 initial assessment.
  8. Outcome – The accrediting agency determines the accreditation outcome based on the final assessment report.
  9. Final report –The agency will deliver a final assessment report within 30 days of completion of the final assessment.
  10. Submission of data – the Commission receives data on assessment outcomes from accrediting agency.
  11. Registration – The Commission will enter the details of service providers who are Accredited or Working Towards Accreditation on a register of assessed digital mental health service providers.
  12. Ongoing monitoring – Service providers continue their monitoring and quality improvement process working to fully implement or continue to comply with the NSQDMH Standards throughout the three-year accreditation cycle.

Detailed information about how assessments are conducted, and rules and policies that apply are outlined in the following section.

Contact us

For questions and feedback on the NSQDMH Standards please contact the Safety and Quality Advice Centre via AdviceCentre@safetyandquality.gov.au or 1800 304 056.

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Assessment processes, rules and requirements

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