The purpose of the case practice audit program is to improve and support practice carried out by social workers under the Child, Family and Community Service Act to ensure the provision of consistent high quality services to children and families. Case practice audits are very important tools that help identify practice strengths and areas requiring improvement, encourage the development of good practice and support organizational and individual learning.
Case practice audits are conducted by regional auditors on a four year cycle in accordance with standardized methodologies, procedures and tools. Through a review of a sample of cases in an office, the audit provides a baseline measure of the current level of practice in an office. The audit tools measure compliance to the child and family service and the children in care service standards. These standards provide the mandatory framework for service delivery under the Child, Family and Community Service Act.
The audit process is very rigorous. The Ministry takes its audit practice very seriously and to that end, audits itself to a very high standard. In order to receive a compliance rating there must be documentation that confirms the compliance criteria for each measure have been met. Many of the measures contain multiple compliance criteria. If any of the criteria are inadequately addressed a non-compliance rating results. All non-compliance ratings are immediately reviewed by the office Team Leader to ensure that any outstanding work is completed. The findings of the audit are reviewed with the team and regional managers and recommendations are developed to address any practice issues identified in the audit. The recommendations are monitored for implementation.
As a result of an initial audit, a ministry office may be re-audited to ensure the effectiveness of recommendations and strategies developed to address those practice areas with low compliance, providing an opportunity to measure improvement. It should be noted that areas of non-compliance do not suggest cases or circumstances in which a child may be at risk. Where such circumstances may exist, the auditor immediately reports on the circumstance and the issue is addressed.
The current case practice audit program was implemented in June 2004 to measure compliance to the revised child and family service and child in care service standards. The previous audit program was based on former standards and was discontinued in 2002. Work then commenced on developing new audit tools and methodologies that reflected the revised standards.
In July 2006 a decision was made to post annual audit summary reports going back to June 2004. A decision has also been made to post individual director’s case practice audit reports that have been completed since April 2006.
Personal information has been removed from the reports due to the privacy requirements of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The majority of audit reports posted in June, 2009 demonstrate that staff is meeting the requirements of practice standards. Of the 26 most recently posted audits posted, 17 are identified as having achieved high or very high compliance. Each of these respective audits also show considerable improvement when compared to initial audit results for each of the respective agencies.
Seven of the 26 audit reports identify what the ministry considers practice areas with low compliance and two re-audits will occur. In each of these cases, recommendations have been developed to address areas of low compliance and improve practice. Recommendations are monitored for implementation during this process.
View a synopsis of each of the 26 most recently posted Director's Case Practice audit reports.
| Location | Team | Year |
| Cranbrook (AFB) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Invermere (AFD) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Fernie Community Services (AFK) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Vernon Family Services (DED) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2009 |
| Revelstoke Integrated Services (DEF) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2009 |
| Golden Community Services (DEQ) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Vernon Intake and Assessment (DHB) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Penticton Community Services (DMH) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Grand Forks Community Services (DMX) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Kelowna Aboriginal Services (DWD) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Kamloops North Intake and Family Services Team (EFB) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2009 |
| Port Alberni Team (KFB) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Courtenay Guardianship Team (KKC) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Campbell River Permanency Planning Team (KLC) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Westshore Child Protection Team (KND) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Victoria Aboriginal Child Protection Team (KPH) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Esquimalt/Victoria/Saanich Intake and Family Services Team 2 (KPF) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Burns Lake Child & Family Services (QCB) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Mackenzie Child and Family Services (QGJ) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2007 |
| Prince George [permanent planning] Adolescent Services (QGM) Prince George [permanent planning] Children Services (QGV) |
Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Dawson Creek Child and Family Services (QJB) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2007 |
| Quesnel Child and Family Services (QGP) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2007 |
| Vancouver North Family Services Team (RFJ) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Vancouver Permanency Planning & Adoptions Team (RFL) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Campbell River Child Protection Team (KLE) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
| Fort St. James Child & Family Services (QCD) | Director's Case Practice Audit Report | 2008 |
To view archived Child Protection Audits click here.
Delegated Aboriginal Agency case practice audits are posted on the First Nations Directors Forum website.
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