VPRS 20232 Records of the Inquiry into the Department of Human Services (DHS) Quality of Support Review (QoSR) processes for staff to client assaults in DHS Disability Services

This series consists of the records of the Disability Services Commissioner's Inquiry into the Department of Human Services (DHS) Quality of Support Review (QoSR) processes for staff to client assaults in DHS Disability Services. It contains the evidence collected during the inquiry, working papers, the terms of reference, and the final report. In 2011, the Department of Human Services (DHS) established a 'quality of support review' process. This process is activated in cases of staff to client assault in disability services. The Disability Services Commissioner (DSC) subsequently established an inquiry into the quality of support review processes that DHS had in place for disability services. The purpose of this inquiry was to provide advice to the Minister for Community Services on the adequacy of these processes, and to identify any issues relating to staff to client assaults that would assist DHS in reducing incidences of such assaults. The scope of the inquiry included the approaches and mechanisms of DHS in quality of support reviews. The inquiry considered the adequacy of: immediate and ongoing responses to ensure client safety and wellbeing processes to ensure clients feel supported following an alleged assault other relevant issues identified in the course of the inquiry including those which would assist in reducing the incidence of staff to client assaults. The inquiry reviewed all incident reports and associated documentation relating to staff to client assaults in DHS services between 1 January 2011 and 31 July 2011. The Inquiry Panel conducted the inquiry with an eight week timeframe for receipt and review of the evidence, and a two week timeframe to produce the final report. The report was provided to the Minister on 31 October 2011.