Accreditation—Again

Get ready—you’ll be hearing the word ‘accreditation’ more and more as we get into 2026. This is a little refresher on what accreditation is, why it’s important, how we’ll be preparing.

First – what is accreditation and why is it important?

Basically, being accredited tells our clients, partners, community, and funders that an independent body has reviewed GSS services and confirmed they are organized and delivered to best practice standards. That means we can be trusted to provide high quality, safe client care and we can be trusted to make good use of funds.

GSS is reviewed and accredited by Accreditation Canada, the most rigorous accreditation body in Canada. The agency was first accredited in 2011 and has been reviewed every four years since then with the last being in June 2022. Our next review is in June, 2027 and, you’re right, that’s a year later than our normal 4-year schedule. Accreditation Canada needed time to re-balance their surveyor resources so deferred the survey of organizations that, like GSS, have shown they had robust processes and procedures in place—so this was a big pat on the back for us.

What will we be doing to prepare?

It seems like June, 2027, is a long way off but the time goes quickly. Until then, we’ll be reviewing our processes and updating procedures to make sure they align with Accreditation Canada standards.

You’re already seeing some of that review through the ‘Required Organizational Practices (ROPs) packages that started going out in October to all programs. ROPs are a regular part of our work life. For example, we’re reviewing and complying with ROPs through hand hygiene demos at GSMs and monthly hand hygiene audits and when programs do regular fire and emergency drills.

For the actual accreditation review, two surveyors will be on site for three days talking to our board, leaders, staff and clients. Preparation is kind of like getting ready for a job interview so there will be some practice sessions. While on site, the surveyors will review files and visit several sites – basically, seeing how we do our daily work.

Although accreditation is important and GSS invests time and effort in preparing for the accreditation review, we should feel comfortable about the process. Reviews should be just that – reviews. Much work has gone on for years to align GSS procedures with the best practice standards so when the surveyors arrive, it’s an opportunity for staff to showcase the great work that we regularly do.