North Carolina Accreditation Process

CQL Accreditation includes three visits over a four-year period.

Visit One covers Shared Values, Basic Assurances® and Personal Outcome Measures®

• If all 46 Basic Assurances® measures are present, the organization is accredited for four years
• If 34 to 45 Basic Assurances® measures are present, the organization is accredited for one year
• If fewer than 34 Basic Assurances® measures are present, the organization is not accredited
• Visit Two takes place 12 months after Visit One and covers Responsive Services® and Community Life® measures
• Visit Three takes place 18 months after Visit Two and focuses on a review of the organization’s Integrated Quality Management System

During the onsite visits, CQL teams use a variety of data gathering and assessment methods to gain a broad and accurate picture of the organization and the degree to which it meets the standards.

These methods include:

• Personal meetings and targeted interviews with persons served and their families and/or guardians, as appropriate
• Personal meetings and interviews with organizational employees at all levels
• Focus group meetings with persons served, employees, community members, Boards of Directors, and other stakeholders
• Document reviews of organization’s mission, vision, and values statements
  o strategic, business, and/or quality improvement plans
  o policy and procedures
  o inspections, fire, and safety reports
  o complaints and grievances by persons served, their families, employees, volunteers, and/or community members
  o reports and investigations of abuse, neglect, and deaths
  o financial records
  o human resources and employment records
  o data system and quality management reports
• Visits to the organization’s locations
• Observations of daily interactions and activities