Three Berry Street programs were externally audited against the Homelessness
Assistance Service Standards (HASS). Family Violence (North and West region),
Transitional Youth Support Service (TYSS – North and West region) and Leaving Care
(Hume) were audited on the 2nd and 3rd September. The audit was conducted by
QICSA (Quality Improvement and Community Services Accreditation). Berry Street
was found to be fully compliant in all areas except one with that requirement now
fulfilled.
Were assessed as compliant for registration at the BEST Centre by the Victorian
Registration and Qualifications Authority.
Undertook a comprehensive review the RTO compliance with standards and developed
an action plan to improve quality and consistency of RTO operations
Supported the FRSP (Family Relationships Services Program) FRSP funded services in
Hume (Children‟s Contact Service and Post Separation Cooperative Parenting
Program) outlining applicable standards and building capacity to understand
approaches to quality improvement
7.4
Heritage and Records Management
Our Heritage and Background Information Service (HBIS) supports past clients, family of
past clients and others to appropriately access records and information held by Berry
Street. In 2009 the total number of new enquiries received was 103 with close to half of
these (45) not proceeding beyond the initial enquiry stage. Around 26 enquiries (roughly
25% of the overall total) were from individual care leavers seeking information about
their time in care. A further 49 (roughly 50%) might be classified as family history
research, being from the offspring, siblings or descendents of clients. In addition, there
were 16 which concerned adoption, and were therefore referred to the Adoption and
Family Records Service at DHS.
Demand for assistance through the service in 2009 was similar to 2008 although has
increased markedly in the later part of 2009. The heightened community awareness of
the needs of people who have spent time in institutional care following the national
apology to Forgotten Australians is seen as the reason for this increase.
During 2009 we:Re-wrote a range of policies and procedures relating to the creation, content,
accessibility, transport and relocation, archiving and disposal of client records.
Commenced work on have the Public Records Office carry out a heritage audit of
Berry Street historical and heritage materials.
Supported all regions with the assessment, processing and centralised archiving of all
dormant past client files.
Undertook privacy training through the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
Piloted privacy training for staff in partnership with DHS in preparation for agency
wide privacy training in 2010.
Responded to subpoena for access to past client information.
7.5
Organisational Forums
Membership of these groups ranges across staff levels within the organisation and their
meeting method and frequency is determined by each group. Groups consist of:
Therapeutic Residential Care; Looking After Children; Quality (CSO Registration;
Homelessness; Disability; Take Two); Education; Home Based Care; Residential Care;
Residential Managers; and Children‟s Contact Services.
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