Steps in the CQL Accreditation Process
CQL's Accreditation process includes organizational commitment, preparation and self-assessment; three on-site visits by CQL review teams (over four years) and an ongoing partnership agreement. Organizations pursuing CQL Accreditation will engage in the following steps:
- Application – commit to engage in the process, complete organizational and demographic information, and provide supporting information about Shared Values, Basic Assurances® and Personal Outcome Measures®
- Self-Assessment – complete self-assessments in Shared Values and Basic Assurances®
- Validation of Shared Values and Basic Assurances® – work with the CQL team in validating the self-assessment results during the first on-site visit; includes focus groups and other meetings, gatherings and visits with people; CQL team members spend time at locations where people are supported, provide a summary of findings and plan with the organization for next steps
- Personal Outcome Measures® Data Collection and Validation – gather and summarize data based on interviews and conversations with people and share that with the CQL team during the first on-site visit
- Accreditation Partnership Agreement – once all criteria are met, CQL Accreditation is awarded. The organization and CQL team together develop a partnership agreement for ongoing collaboration; included in this agreement are the actions the organization will take to continue the quality journey and CQL’s responsibilities and contributions that support the organization’s ongoing quality improvement efforts
- Responsive Services® and Community Life® Validation – complete self-assessments in these two areas and provide other supporting information; the CQL team holds the second on-site visit (one year after visit one) and the organization provides the results of a community assessment, organizes focus groups and other meetings, and arranges for CQL to observe a person-directed planning meeting
- Integrated Quality Management – the organization and CQL work together to analyze information and develop or enhance an integrated quality management system during the third on-site visit (18 months after visit two)
CQL Accreditation results in a four-year term of accreditation and partnership agreement.
CQL Accreditation Eligibility Criteria
The organization must meet specific criteria for CQL Accreditation. The organization will have demonstrated its commitment to the principles of person-centered services by:
- Integrating the values and practices of person-responsive and person-centered service delivery into all functions of the organization
- Providing flexible and ever-changing supports and services based on people’s priorities, while maintaining solid assurances of protecting their health, safety and human security
- Continually adjusting organizational practices and procedures to best support the individual priorities of the people receiving services and demonstrating how learning impacts change and identifies the results of the change
- Impacting the neighborhoods, community, regions and/or state and building increased capacity outside the walls of the organization
The following criteria must be met to enter into and maintain an Accreditation Partnership Agreement with CQL:
- Presence of all Basic Assurances® Systems and Practices
- Ongoing evaluation, learning and growth supporting Shared Values
- Personal Outcome Measures® data that meet the threshold for the number of Outcomes and Supports present
- Meeting threshold criteria for Responsive Services®
- Demonstrated commitment to integrate Community Life® into operations and strategic thinking, beginning with an operational system for data collection about Community Life® issues
- Demonstrated progress in the development of an Integrated Quality Management System
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