HSP Obligations in Monitoring & Site Visits: What You Need to Know

At the heart of every successful home sharing arrangement is a commitment to quality, one that begins in the home. As a Home Sharing Provider (HSP), you are more than just a caregiver; you are a key partner in upholding the safety, dignity, and rights of the individuals you support.

This responsibility isn’t just personal, it’s also part of a broader system of accountability. With the launch of Community Living BC’s (CLBC) new Quality Monitoring Framework, the expectations for monitoring and continuous improvement in home sharing have evolved to better reflect person-centered, transparent, and culturally safe practices.  There have been a lot of questions about what this means for home sharing providers. Here’s what you need to know:

What Does Quality Monitoring Mean for HSPs?

CLBC’s framework defines quality through five pillars: person-centered service delivery, inclusion and citizenship, safeguarding and rights protection, cultural safety and humility, and continuous learning. As an HSP, you’re expected to support individuals in ways that align with these values, ensuring their goals, rights, and cultural identities are respected every day.

Quality monitoring is no longer just an agency-level responsibility. Quality assurance in home sharing isn’t optional, it’s embedded in both provincial policy and accreditation practice.

Accreditation and CARF Standards: Why They Matter

If you’re affiliated with an agency accredited by CARF International (or other similar accreditation programs), your role is also tied to broader accreditation standards. These include regular performance evaluations, risk management protocols, and active participation in quality improvement initiatives.

Accreditation: What Agencies Expect from HSPs

Agencies accredited to CARF standards or similar frameworks require HSPs to participate actively in quality systems:

• Regular site assessments and performance reviews, with tracking of outcomes

• Ongoing discussion and feedback mechanisms involving the person supported

• Risk management protocols, including health and safety planning and incident follow-up

• Commitment to continuous professional development in best practices

Key Monitoring Requirements

According to Section 4.E of the CARF Standards:

• A procedure must be in place for monitoring performance expectations of the host family/shared living provider, including:

  • A first monitoring visit at 30 days

  • A second visit at 90 days

  • Quarterly visits thereafter, unless more frequent monitoring is needed.

• During each visit, agencies must hold individual discussions with:

  1. The person served

  2. The host family/shared living provider

  3. Others as appropriate

• Monitoring must also ensure:

  • Implementation of program values

  • Respecting the rights of the person served in the home

  • Protection from exploitation

  • Facilitation of community linkages

• Additionally, sites must document monitoring results and follow‑up actions, evaluating performance and responding to issues as they arise.

 Why It Matters

• These are not optional check-ins: early (30-/90-day) and regular visits are legally expected.

• The quality of conversations during visits matters: rights, values, exploitation prevention, and community integration should all be discussed.

• Thorough documentation and responsive follow‑up demonstrate compliance and support continuous improvement.

CARF Accreditation Quick Summary

Final Thought

Quality monitoring isn’t just compliance, it’s how trust is built. As a Home Sharing Provider, these visits and discussions open doors to meaningful, rights-based support. If you’d like help completing checklists, role-playing visit conversations, or crafting clear documentation, HSSSBC is here for you every step of the way.