Obtaining a three year accreditation certificate from CARF will provide us with proof that we are providing quality services for the people we support, helping us to maintain and strengthen our mission statement of “Working for a community for all”. 

In preparation for the Site Survey we will be having a Mock Survey on Monday, February 23, 2004.  The mock survey will prepare us for presenting the documentation we have created and collected since starting the process in November 2003.  Suzanne Jean, the woman who is performing the task will review all of our documentation and provide us with information regarding any gaps she may identify.   

A first Quality Assurance Report has been prepared and presented to the Quality Assurance Committee.  A final report, which will include performance improvement goals, will be completed in time for the Site Survey in April.  Summaries of information about each program stream will be sent to all of our stakeholders and the full report will be posted on our website in April.

 Program Advisory Committees continue to meet on a regular basis.  The next meetings will involve important discussions such as planning for the next Annual Satisfaction Survey and will provide a forum for discussion on collecting and using demographic information. 

 The Communication Committee is planning a fun event in preparation for the Site Survey.  All of the people we support, their family members and friends, employees, volunteers and others will be invited to a fun day at the NSDRC office.  Turn over for more news about this exciting event coming up in March 2004!

The past two months have provided us with time to complete the Person Focused Plan outcomes tracking forms; fine-tune our policies and procedures; conduct health and safety emergency drills and internal and external inspections; and a myriad of other small details that needed to be done. 

 We have kept up this pace for the past 18 months!  We are tired, but I think I can speak on behalf of others and say that there is a sense of “smug satisfaction” of a job well done.  Everyone has worked very hard towards this exciting goal. Thank you!

 Questions please contact:

Margot Beauchamp, Accreditation Manager

Direct:  604-904-4087

E-mail:  m.beauchamp@nsdrc.org