Social Services Accreditation
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Accreditation Services
Social sector agency-funded providers must have accreditation so that agencies can contract for their services so that government and clients are assured they have the capability and capacity to deliver quality social services on an on-going basis.
Social Services Accreditation assesses organisations against a set of standards at a level that reflects the type of services they deliver. This means that government agencies and the provider’s clients can be confident in the services that are delivered. This is often under legislation such as such as staff recruitment and selection policies should comply with fair employment practices as determined in the Employment Relations Act 2000.
Accreditation Standards
Providers are assessed against the Social Sector Accreditation Standards (SSAS) and additional MSD specific accreditation standards. These standards have recently been reviewed and updated.
Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Programmes
Inter-Agency Accreditation
Inter-Agency Accreditation reduces duplication and compliance for providers when they are working with government agencies to deliver social services to the community.
Approvals Framework
Providers are approved to deliver specific services. The type of services that a provider delivers determines the level of compliance required to gain accreditation.
Accreditation Assessments
The assessment process will vary depending on the level of compliance required. This could include a site visit or a desk-based assessment.
Applying for Accreditation
A provider must be able to demonstrate compliance with the appropriate accreditation standards.
The mandate
Social Services Accreditation is mandated to accredit providers for social sector agencies such as Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children, Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Department of Corrections.
