Quality Assurance

All services offered by the Developmental Disabilities Association are accredited by CARF. CARF accreditation certifies that the practices and policies of the Developmental Disabilities Association meet or exceed a comprehensive list of international standards that can be applied to Community Service Agencies. Accreditation is achieved following a review of practice by a qualified team of surveyors.

The Association was last accredited in 2009, for 3 years, which is the maximum Accreditation award possible. At this time, the Association received commendations for three exemplary practices.

The three exemplary practices are as follows (taken from the CARF survey report):

• Valuing and promoting training and ongoing professional development at all staff level at all staff levels. DDA has enhanced professional training and development opportunities by being the first society in Canada to partner with the web-based College of Direct Support (CDS)
• Using/developing innovative and exemplary application of touch-screen computer software in residential services to orient and train staff members regarding the individual support requirements of residents with unique challenges, thus enhancing their overall quality of life. This same software is also used for augmentative communication purposes for the same residents with remarkable success.
• Maintaining an exemplary degree of visibility locally, provincially, and nationally in lobbying for increased funding; advocating aggressively in the interest of the children, adults and families it supports; and building innovative community partnerships. In May, the executive director led the Canadian Developmental Disabilities and Psychiatric Services delegation to the People’s Republic of China. DDA has recently established the community development committee, the purpose of which is to broaden social opportunities for all persons with developmental disabilities in Vancouver and Richmond by developing DDA’s internal community and external communities, including neighbourhoods, businesses, parks, and recreation centres, and an enhanced presence and involvement in Vancouver and Richmond’s many ethnic communities.

For more details on our CARF evaluation, please view the full CARF Survey Report.

The Developmental Disabilities Association engages in ongoing Quality Assurance practices that support its Accreditation including:

• Strategic Planning
• Companywide surveys (last issued October 2008)
• Individual Planning for the children and adults we support
• Monitoring and improving health and safety
• Managing risk
• Setting realistic goals and evaluating the results
• Improving accessibility to facilities and services
• Responding to and analyzing any critical incidents
• Monitoring trends in Community Services and looking for ways to improve
• Adapting our services and practices to the needs of the individuals we support

For further information on Accreditation and Quality Assurance, or to give feedback on our services, please contact Director of Quality Assurance, Paul Sankey, at 604-273-9778 or email psankey@develop.bc.ca.