Preparing Applications

What to do when preparing your evidence

• Read the quality Indicator carefully and identify the requirements and key elements of that quality Indicator.
  
  Example: QIAS 5.4.1: The centre has written policies for safety checks and maintenance of buildings and equipment.
  
  There are a number of key elements in this quality Indicator, such as:
  
  (a) The centre must have policies which address both safety checks and maintenance;
  (b) The policies must deal with both buildings and equipment.

• Read any Validator comments in the Validation Report. It may be that not all elements of the quality Indicator are in dispute.
  
  Example: Validator comment - Staff in toddler room stated that there was no policy for safety checks.
  The key element in dispute in this case is whether the service has a policy for safety checks as the Validator has made no comment in regard to the presence of a policy for maintenance of buildings and equipment.

• Formulate an argument that addresses the above element.
  
  Example: There is a written policy document for safety checks for all rooms in the centre. It is kept on the shelf in the toddler room. The staff member on duty at the time of the Validation Visit was a relief staff member who was not aware that the policy was kept there. At the end of the Validation Visit the Director showed the Validator the written policy document for safety checks for all areas within the centre.

• Provide the documentation that will support the argument.
  
  Example:
  (a) Copy of the policy document for safety checks. This will need to cover safety checks for buildings and equipment;
  (b) Statutory declaration to verify the policy was accessible to the Validator at the Validation Visit.
  Please refer to Using a statutory declaration for more information.

• Ensure that all documentation submitted clearly relates to the specific carer, staff member or room, in dispute.
  
  Example: QIAS 3.2.4 Documentation of children's learning and development is maintained for all children.
  Validator comment - There was no documentation for 5 of the 10 children in the pre-school room for the four months prior to the Validation Visit.
  In this example it is necessary to provide evidence to show there was documentation for all children in the pre-school room, which was current as at the date of the Validation Visit, and which relates specifically to learning and development.