support the provision of high-quality services to clients through the transparent reporting of critical incidents; and ensure that IFSS providers inform the appropriate DSS officers of significant incidents affecting clients in a timely and accurate manner. 1.3 Relationship with IFSS provider’s internal incident reporting guidelines and reports IFSS providers may have own organisational critical incident reporting policies. IFSS providers must ensure consistency with IFSS guidelines and Departmental requirements. 2 and responsibilities 2.1 Local service level IFSS provider – The IFSS provider is responsible for addressing and managing critical incidents at the service delivery level. This includes: complying with relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation; responding to the immediate needs of individuals involved, including staff, and taking any remedial action necessary to re-establish a safe environment; this is the first priority where safety is threatened; communicating with the client and/or staff member, relatives, carers, friends or advocates and other service providers or authorities (e.g. child protection authority) as appropriate and in a timely manner; undertaking follow-up actions in relation to individual incidents; reporting critical incidents as defined in this guideline to DSS Northern Territory (NT) Office ; and developing and implementing improvement strategies and monitoring/reviewing the effectiveness of these strategies. 2.2 DSS Office –NT The responsibilities of the DSS NT Office include: advising DSS National Office of the incident; providing a copy of the critical incident report to both DSS National Office and the Implementation Capacity Support Service (ICSS) provider; and ensuring that IFSS providers are aware of and comply with this guideline. 2.3 DSS National Office – DSS National Office is responsible for reviewing incident data, in consultation with DSS NT Office and the ICSS provider, to inform policy development and continuous improvement of the incident reporting approach, practice guidelines and policy implementation. DSS National Office is responsible for notifying the Minister where required.
support the provision of high-quality services to clients through the transparent reporting of critical incidents; and ensure that IFSS providers inform the appropriate DSS officers of significant incidents affecting clients in a timely and accurate manner. 1.3 Relationship with IFSS provider’s internal incident reporting guidelines and reports IFSS providers may have own organisational critical incident reporting policies. IFSS providers must ensure consistency with IFSS guidelines and Departmental requirements. 2 and responsibilities 2.1 Local service level – IFSS provider The IFSS provider is responsible for addressing and managing critical incidents at the service delivery level. This includes: complying with relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation; responding to the immediate needs of individuals involved, including staff, and taking any remedial action necessary to re-establish a safe environment; this is the first priority where safety is threatened; communicating with the client and/or staff member, relatives, carers, friends or advocates and other service providers or authorities (e.g. child protection authority) as appropriate and in a timely manner; undertaking follow-up actions in relation to individual incidents; reporting critical incidents as defined in this guideline to DSS Northern Territory (NT) Office ; and developing and implementing improvement strategies and monitoring/reviewing the effectiveness of these strategies. 2.2 DSS –NT Office The responsibilities of the DSS NT Office include: advising DSS National Office of the incident; providing a copy of the critical incident report to both DSS National Office and the Implementation Capacity Support Service (ICSS) provider; and ensuring that IFSS providers are aware of and comply with this guideline. 2.3 DSS – National Office DSS National Office is responsible for reviewing incident data, in consultation with DSS NT Office and the ICSS provider, to inform policy development and continuous improvement of the incident reporting approach, practice guidelines and policy implementation. DSS National Office is responsible for notifying the Minister where required.