Licensing process

Pre-licensing Human Services Quality Framework certification

Organisations must be incorporated, delivering care services, deemed to be in scope of licensing and certified under the Human Services Quality Framework. The department will then invite the organisation to apply for a care service licence.

Licensing process

The licensing process starts once an organisation is delivering care services, is deemed to be in scope for licensing and has been certified for the provision of child protection placement services under the Human Services Quality Framework.

1. application for a licence

• An organisation deemed in scope of licensing is invited to apply for a licence following successful certification of relevant child protection placement services against the Human Services Quality Framework (HSQF).
• The department accepts the application as properly made if it meets legislated requirements outlined in Section 125 of the Child Protection Act 1999.

2. assessment of the application

• The department gathers, reviews and analyses information to assess the application. This includes the HSQF audit report, details of any complaints and standards of care concerns that have occurred in the previous 12 months, regional feedback and information on the suitability of persons associated with the provision of care services.
• The organisation is provided an opportunity to respond to regional feedback and the contents of the HSQF audit report information before the application is progressed to the departmental licensing delegate to make a licence decision.
• All information relevant to the application including recommendations made by Child Safety Licensing (CSL) is compiled into a Licence Application Report by CSL for consideration by the SWLP.  The SWLP makes a recommendation to the licensing delegate as to whether the application should be granted or refused, or whether further information is required to make a decision.

3. the licence application decision

• The departmental licensing delegate grants the licence application if the applicant meets legislated requirements of Section 126 of the Child Protection Act 1999. The organisation is then issued with a licence.

4. monitoring compliance with licensing requirements.

• The Child Safety Licensing Team develops annual licence monitoring schedules in consultation with I&P team members and monitors organisational governance and individual care services covered by the licence.

Organisations must undergo recertification against the Human Services Quality Framework in enough time to submit a licence renewal application at least 30 days before their licence expires.