The Standards Monitoring Unit assesses the quality of service delivery at District Offices by a process which includes a monitoring visit, examination of a sample of cases and the production of a report.

The purpose of the monitoring visit is to assess whether the services provided by the Department are meeting the required standards, identify excellence in service provision and to highlight required actions and opportunities for service improvement.

An essential component of the monitoring visit is obtaining feedback from children, young people, their families and carers with respect to the protection and care services they have received.  In addition, monitors examine documentation about the services provided to children and young people as well as the policies and procedures of the service.

The monitoring report, developed as a result of the monitoring visit, takes into account the views of children and young people, their families, carers, staff and management.  The Standards Monitoring Unit follows up the progress of the Districts in implementing the required actions and opportunities for service improvement identified as a result of the monitoring visit.