FAQs for National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations

Community managed organisations directly involved in providing mental health services are encouraged to implement the NSQMHCMO Standards to improve the safety and quality of care.

Decisions about which sets of standards are required by funding bodies will be made by those bodies. However, if you are a community managed service provider that provides mental health services, these are likely to be the most fit-for-purpose standards for your organisation.

All safety and quality standards developed by the Commission are aligned in structure and intent and focus on embedding robust governance frameworks and processes for partnering with consumers and carers in the planning, development, delivery and evaluation of safe and high-quality healthcare services.

In certain circumstances, a regulator or funder of a CMO may mandate accreditation to a particular standard. If there is no requirement to adhere to a particular standard, a CMO may choose to implement the standard that is most applicable to their service context.

The Commission has developed a range of resources to support implementation. These include a Guide for Service Providers which describes practical strategies and best practice examples to help CMOs meet individual actions in the standards. There is also an associated self-assessment tool to help service providers track their progress toward meeting actions.

The Commission is finalising a series of fact sheets for service providers. The fact sheets will further detail the accreditation process. 

Not all actions in the NSQMHCMO Standards will apply to all CMOs.

The Commission has clear guidance for service providers, assessors and consumers and carers about the process to determine if an action is not applicable in a specific context.

• Read advice to ensure accrediting agencies consistently apply not applicable status to actions within the NSQMHCMO Standards

CMOs can begin implementing the NSQMHCMO Standards now.

The Commission has finalised accreditation scheme arrangements for assessment to the NSQMHCMO Standards. Appendix 6 of the Policy - Approval under the The Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme to conduct assessments outlines the conditions of conducting assessments using the NSQMHCMO Standards.

Policy - Approval under the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme to conduct assessments

2024

Publication, report or update

The Commission approves accrediting agencies to be able to assess service providers' implementation of standards.

In September 2024, the Commission approved six accrediting agencies to assess community-managed mental health service organisations to the NSQMHCMO Standards. These agencies were approved by the Commission following application and review by an industry-based panel.

Service providers need to engage with an approved accrediting agency to conduct their assessment.

• Contact details of approved agencies

The Commission has partnered with Lived Experience Australia to develop a series of fact sheets for consumers and carers which provide an overview of the NSQMHCMO Standards and how they will affect consumers, carers and peer workers, an explanation of the accreditation process and how consumers can use their lived experience to improve mental health services for everyone.