As a service agency funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services we are legislatively required to follow Regulation 299/10 Quality Assurance Measures (QAM). This Regulation is simply a set of rules that ensure all service agencies in Ontario provide high quality supports and services while being held to the same standards.
What are the Rules?
Regulation 299/10 – Quality Assurance Measures (QAM) covers a wide range of topics to ensure people receiving support in Ontario are safe, included and active within their communities, and able to make choices that affect their lives.
Topics include:
Promoting social inclusion, individual choice, independence and rights
Individual Support Plans
Support with day-to-day finances
Health Promotion, medical services and medication
Preventing and Reporting Abuse
Confidentiality and Privacy
Safety of People Supported
Safety in agency owned/operated places
Human Resources
Practically, some day-to-day processes we have in place to meet QAM and achieve the high quality supports we strive for are; Rights of People Supported Procedure, Individual Support Plans (including goals, 6-month reviews, and safeguards - Support Strategies), Medication Administration Records and Compliance Packaging from the Student Centre Pharmacy, following Fire Code (Fire Safety Plans, Sign offs, Fire Drills and Enhanced Fire Drills), Water temperature checks, Reference Checks and Vulnerable Sector Police Clearances, to name a few – there are actually 351 indicators (rules).
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How does the Ministry ensure all those Rules are followed?
To ensure compliance with the rules set out in 299/10 the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services conducts annual inspections of service agencies. This year our compliance inspection took place October 21, 2024 – November 1, 2024.Â
Community Living Windsor was visited by 3 Program Advisors and 1 Team Leader.Â
The group reviewed our:
Policies and Procedures, Board Records (10 Board Members), Staff-Volunteer Records (30 Staff Files), Individual (person supported) Records (49 files of people supported), Records and Documentation, and Completed Site Inspections at fifteen 24-hour support locations.
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How did we do? (click the arrow to find out)
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Across the Province
At a recent meeting with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services they shared some Compliance numbers from across the province.
In 2023-2024
·        33.2% of Agencies were in compliance
·        The average number of non-compliances were 3.21 per agency
·        20% of Agencies had recurring non-compliances (the same non-compliance from previous year)
In 2024-2025 (so far)
·        22.6% if Agencies in compliance (down 10.6%)
·        The average number of non-compliances have been 3.76 per agency (up 15%)
·        23% of Agencies had recurring non-compliances (up 3%)
While the trend across the province is increased non-compliances, here at Community Living Windsor we have set the bar very high, and will strive to keep that high level of performance year over year with our teams!
