QCPP assessments occur every two years via an onsite assessment at your pharmacy. On this page you will find resources to help you prepare for and maintain your pharmacy’s QCPP accreditation.
Maintaining QCPP Accreditation
QCPP accredited pharmacies maintain compliance in the business by implementing quality management systems which can include regular reviews of the business’ policies and procedures and, maintaining certifications in areas such as CPR and First aid.
Key components of maintaining QCPP accreditation are:
Prepare – Being prepared for your Quality Care 2020 Assessment is important to ensure that the assessment process goes smoothly. This can also help to minimise the number of Corrective Actions issued after your assessment week.
Assess- On your assessment day, work with your assessor to supply a range of evidence to support the compliance of your pharmacy in accordance with the Quality Care 2020 Requirements.
Review – During the Corrective Actions phase of your assessment, you will need to review and address gaps in compliance as identified by your assessor to receive accreditation.
Maintain – To remain compliant in the interim between your assessments, the business must maintain a Quality Management system focused on revising training requirements, policies and procedures regularly.
More information on each stage of completing and maintaining your accreditation can be found below.
Prepare
Preparing for an onsite assessment is the most important step to set your pharmacy up for success. The Onsite Assessment Guide provides an overview of steps to take ahead of your onsite assessment:
- Access the QCPP Customer Portal
- Review the Quality Care 2020 Requirements
- Prepare your evidence
- Plan your roster
Learn more about each step in the Onsite Assessment Guide
Ahead of your assessment, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the 5 Domains of Quality:
We recommend that you log into the Quality Care 2020 Knowledge Hub for more resources, frequently asked questions and support videos, designed to help you understand the Requirements and prepare for your assessments.
Visit the Quality Care 2020 Knowledge Hub
Assess
On the assessment day, work with your assessor to complete the assessment checklist you will need to supply a range of evidence to support the compliance of your pharmacy in accordance with the Quality Care 2020 Requirements.
For a detailed overview of when you can expect to hear from us during the assessment, check out the Communications Map.
Review
Within 21 calendar days of the completion of your assessment, you will receive your Interim Report which details any corrective actions your pharmacy may be required to close out prior to receiving your accreditation.
Learn more about completing your corrective actions and what to expect after your assessment on the After your Assessment page.
Maintain
Once you have successfully completed your Quality Care assessment, it is crucial to continue to uphold your pharmacy’s compliance from the conclusion of your current assessment until your next accreditation. Below are some suggestions on how you can facilitate continuous improvement in your business.
Set a schedule and calendar reminders to review policies and procedures throughout the year.
Examples:
- Review vaccination procedures around April/May ahead of cold and flu season.
- Prior to the end of year, review casual hiring and onboarding procedures.
The delegation of procedure maintenance is important to ensure your team is compliant across your business.
Keep up to date with common corrective actions by signing up to our Quality in Practice eNewsletter.
Onsite Assessments
From 1 October 2024, all QCPP assessments are conducted onsite.
Onsite Information Webinar
QCPP hosts webinars to provide support to pharmacies approaching their onsite assessments against the Quality Care 2020 Version 1.1 requirements. The webinar below provides insight into preparing for one as well as a brief overview of the process.
What happens during an onsite assessment?
When the assessor arrives at your pharmacy they will hold a brief opening meeting with the pharmacy owner, manager and/or QCPP coordinator to discuss:
- Which services your pharmacy provides and will be assessed against.
- A brief description of what evidence you will need to make available to the assessor e.g. documents and procedures.
- The overall circumstances of your pharmacy (staff make-up, identification of the professional services area, anything you deem necessary for the QCPP assessor to know about your pharmacy).
After the opening meeting, the assessor will begin the assessment. This will include:
- Review of your pharmacy specific procedures, such as emergency protocols, professional services, needles and sharps, etc.
- Review of relevant records, such as HR records.
- Observation of the professional service area, dispensary and retail area to ensure QCPP requirements are met. This may include walking around your pharmacy, taking photos or selecting dispensary or shop items for closer review.
- Discussions with your pharmacy staff about pharmacy procedures and policies.
Once the onsite assessment has been completed the assessor will hold a closing meeting with you, which will include:
- Summary of corrective actions identified during your assessment and the next steps required to finalise your QCPP assessment.
Support
If you have any questions, please email help@qcpp.com or phone the QCPP Helpline 1300 363 340 to speak to a member of the QCPP Support Team.