Accreditation: What's Involved

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Information for Surveyors

Any public health agency that meets the criteria outlined in the Accreditation Documents may apply by following the preparatory steps indicated in the documents and by submitting the completed forms along with the Accreditation fee.

Preparation for accreditation varies according to which standards are met by the agency when it first begins preparations and ranges from 1-2 years.

All applications for accreditation are reviewed by the Principles and Standards Committee of the OCCHA Board of Directors. Based on a review of the application, public health agencies are either considered ready for an accreditation survey or are encouraged to prepare themselves for re-application at a later date.

Surveys are scheduled within 90 days of acceptance of the application (unless this deadline is extended by mutual agreement). Surveys are conducted by experience public health professionals specially trained as surveyors (see also Information for Surveyors).

Survey Teams

Survey teams are comprised of a Senior Surveyor, 2-3 trained surveyors, 1-2 apprentice surveyors and the Executive Director. The size of the survey team is determined by the size and scope of the public health agency.

Length of an Accreditation Survey

Accreditation surveys require 3 full days and are generally conducted from Monday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Friday. The purpose of the survey is to evaluate the agency’s degree of compliance with the OCCHA principles and standards by gathering information from:

• The Agency Questionnaire (completed by the Agency and submitted with the application form);

• The review of evidence/documentation on-site, and

• The interview of staff members and representatives of local community agencies.

Surveyor worksheets are completed by the members of the survey team upon completion of an accreditation survey. These worksheets contain the findings, commendations, suggestions, recommendations and requirements of the surveyors relative to the review of documents and the interview of staff members and community agency representatives. The report is submitted to OCCHA within two weeks of the completion of the survey.

A complete outline of the elements of an accreditation survey can be found in the Surveyor Manual for an Accreditation Survey in the section Information for Surveyors.

The Accreditation Award

The accreditation award is determined by the OCCHA Board of Directors, in consultation with the Principles and Standards Committee. The length of the accreditation award will be two, three, four, or five years and is based upon careful review of the findings of the accreditation survey.

5 Year Accreditation: A rating indicating optimal compliance across and within the standards with no components noting insufficient evidence to demonstrate compliance. This rating demonstrates overall excellence in the delivery of programs and services in public health and the agency is recognized to be performing in an exemplary way.

4 Year Accreditation: A rating indicating substantial compliance across and within the standards. Some areas of improvement have been identified which should be addressed. This rating demonstrates high achievement in the delivery of programs and services.

3 Year Accreditation: A rating indicating satisfactory compliance across and within the standards. Some weaknesses within the standards have been identified which may affect the delivery of programs and services and which should be addressed. This rating demonstrates good delivery of programs and services.

2 Year Accreditation: A rating indicating minimal compliance across and within the standards. Deficiencies however, exist relative to the standards that affect the delivery of programs and services. These deficiencies must be remedied. This rating demonstrates that the agency could show more improvement towards compliance with the standards resulting in a higher level of achievement in the delivery of programs and services.

A comprehensive report is provided to the agency outlining the findings and resulting requirements, recommendations, suggestions and commendations.

Appeal Process

Each agency is given 14 days within notification of the accreditation award and report to file its intention to appeal the findings of an accreditation survey. The documentation for such an appeal must be submitted within 34 days of the agency’s receipt of the report. If an appeal is received, the OCCHA Board of Directors will meet with the representatives of the agency to discuss the supporting argument for the appeal. The OCCHA Board of Directors will meet to review the evidence presented and will prepare a final report. The decision of the OCCHA Board of Directors is final.

The Accreditation Certificate

The accreditation award is presented as a certificate to be displayed and viewed by the public and is considered the property of OCCHA. Should an accredited agency fail to abide by the Terms and Conditions of Accreditation, the certificate shall be withdrawn.

Accreditation Fees

At the time of application, the agency is required to submit both the survey fee and the first year's maintenance fee.

All fees are subject to GST.

Survey fees and maintenance fees will be reviewed annually to reflect inflation.