I am extremely pleased to announce that the CARF accreditation results have been received announcing a 3 year CARF accreditation award to Greater Vancouver Community Services Society (GVCSS). The summary at the beginning of the CARF report highlights the many strengths and positive attributes of our organization. You are invited to read the summary and full report which is accessible on the link below.
CARF Survey Report - GVCSS 2015
Given the scope of this review which included personal interviews with all stakeholders and examination of the Agency's vast number of policies and practices by CARF surveyors, I think this is a remarkable achievement and a credit to every person affiliated with GVCSS. Everyone in the organization should be proud of this external review which validates our commitment to the clients we serve and to the dedicated workers who provide such valuable services in the community.
Accreditation 2015
GVCSS will be undergoing its fourth accreditation survey of our programs and operations on May 28 and 29, 2015. GVCSS has expanded the scope of the 2015 survey to include the Governance portion of our operations, an area which demonstrates the leadership practices of our governing Board. We extend appreciation to all of our staff and Board for the work they have undertaken to prepare for this survey which is our most extensive survey to date.
In August 2012, CARF International awarded Greater Vancouver Community Services Society three year accreditation status running from 2012-2015 following their survey of the GVCSS programs and operations in June 2012. Congratulations and thank you goes to all of our GVCSS staff and Board on this significant achievement.
We are very pleased to present the CARF Survey Summary on the link below.
GVCSS formally launched the accreditation process for our Community Living program in January 2005 and received a three year Accreditation Certificate with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in the spring of 2006. Community Living became accredited again in 2009. In 2012, for the first time, GVCSS undertook accreditation for the entire agency.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a peer review process designed to ensure that the participating service provider is delivering services that meet international standards in key organizational areas such as quality assurance, finance, human resources, business planning and occupational health and safety. Accreditation involves the review and development of policies, procedures and guidelines to reflect accreditation standards, employment standards, collective agreement language, health and safety regulations and funder contract expectations.
Who is CARF?
The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is a non-profit organization based in Tucson, Arizona that accredits a range of health and social service programs. They research and set standards for various programs throughout North America, and then conduct site surveys to determine whether appropriate standards are being met. In addition to their excellent reputation in this field, CARF is also viewed as a reputable accrediting agency by our funding authorities.