Home & Community Support - NZS 8158 Standard

The Home and Community Support Sector Standard NZS 8158:2003 applies to service providers offering home and community support to a wide range of people. Clients receiving this service are children, young people and adults, and people with long-term and short-term support needs.

NZS 8158:2003 has six parts:
1.  Service user rights
2.  Organizational management
3.  Entry to services
4.  Service delivery
5.  Managing service delivery
6.  Safe and appropriate environment

In combination the six parts of NZS 8158:2003 cover the essential components of a management system for home and community support service provision.

NZS 8158:2003 is published by Standards New Zealand and approved by the Ministry of Health and Accident Compensation Corporation for audit and certification purposes.  Audits are used to assess an organization on an independent basis against the NZS 8158:2003 Standard.  Regulators and funders frequently stipulate an independent audit and certification as one of the specifications in a contract made with a Home and Community Support Service provider.  Certification to NZS 8158:2003 by the DAA Group is the credential used by the service provider demonstrating its compliance with the Standard.

Provider organizations preparing for their external audit by the DAA Group are encouraged to use the SNZ HB 8158:2004 Home and Community Support Sector Standard Audit Workbook.  When using the audit workbook some points to remember are:
* Record how you meet each criterion of NZS 8158.
* Record your action plan for each criterion that is not yet met.
* Use the example sector solutions in the workbook as a guide for compliance.
* Perform internal audits to get ready for your external audit by the DAA Group.