During the site review a team of children's mental health experts visits the centre to verify that the required number of standards have been achieved. The review lasts at least two days. The actual length of time and number of reviewers varies according to the size of the centre, its volume of services, and the location of its programs. All aspects of the centre's operation are reviewed carefully, especially services and practices. The site review team concentrates on sampling case files, interviewing front-line staff and managers, participating in case conferences, discussing the results of board and referral source surveys, and observing selected program activities.
All information acquired by the review team during a site review is strictly confidential.
At the end of the site review, the team leader gives the centre verbal feedback about the centre's achievement of the standards, indicating strengths and weaknesses, and areas for potential improvement. After the verbal report, a detailed written report is sent to the centre's executive director, who can respond to the report before it goes to the accreditation committee. The Children's Mental Health Ontario accreditation committee consists of four executive directors from accredited centres, two representatives of citizen boards, one person external to Children's Mental Health Ontario who has experience in accreditation, one person with experience in children's mental health, and two non-voting ex officio members. After considering the site review report, the centre's reply to the report, and supporting materials, the accreditation committee submits its recommendation to Children's Mental Health Ontario's board of directors, which makes the actual award. Standards are divided into essential and desirable standards.