Audits and evaluation

Why audits and evaluations are needed

DSS funded services and supports may be audited or evaluated as part of an ongoing quality improvement process.

Audits and evaluations provide:

• an overview of the services
• information about service practices
• information about the quality of life for people using services.

The process identifies and supports positive and innovative approaches that are occurring within services as well as areas for further improvement.

Lead auditors and evaluators look into all aspects of service quality by using relevant contracts and audit and evaluation tools linked to regulatory and contractual requirements.

Types of audits and evaluations

There are three types of audit and evaluation:

1. Routine audit and contractual development evaluations

DSS plans and commissions routine audits and contractual developmental evaluations on a sample of providers on an ongoing basis. These evaluations check providers are delivery services according to their contract and provide recommendations to the provider for quality development. We do not have the contractual powers to evaluate or investigate non-contracted providers such as those contracted directly by disabled people through individualised funding or personal budgets.

 Community residential providers who have five more or registered beds are also required to be audited by an independent designated auditing agency and must be certified by Healthcert. For more information on the certification process visit information for the providers of health care services on the Ministry of Health website external. 

2. Investigations/issues based audits

Investigations/issues based audits are commissioned on an as-needed basis with a specific terms of reference to focus on specific areas of the service. 

3. No notice audits

If a delay in conducting an audit is likely to prejudice the interests of any person, an audit may be carried out without any notice to the provider.