Capability Domain Reference Guide
Definitions for the ten capability domains scored in Section 3, and the rating scales used for Current Capability, Business Importance, and Risk. Keep this open in a second tab while completing the survey.
Rating scales used for every domain
Group A — Current Capability
- Significant Gap — largely absent, inconsistent, or non-compliant
- Developing — basic elements present, applied inconsistently
- Adequate — meets a reasonable standard, some gaps remain
- Strong — consistently well-applied, minor refinement only
- Leading Practice — exemplary, could model to other providers
Group B — Business Importance
- Low — limited bearing on quality or outcomes
- Moderate — some relevance, not currently a priority
- Important — meaningful contributor to quality/outcomes
- Very Important — significant driver of safety or wellbeing
- Critical — fundamental to safe, compliant operation
Group C — Risk
- Low Risk — unlikely to cause harm or non-compliance
- Minor Risk — limited, short-term issue if unaddressed
- Moderate Risk — meaningful harm/complaint/compliance issue possible
- Significant Risk — serious harm or regulatory breach possible
- Critical Risk — severe harm or loss of registration possible
Domain definitions
1 Professional Practice
The extent to which staff apply current, evidence-informed practice standards, professional codes of conduct, and role-appropriate skills and judgement in their day-to-day work with residents.
2 Autonomy & Choice
How well the service supports residents to make their own decisions and exercise choice and control over their daily lives, striking a dignity-respecting balance between support and independence.
3 Human Rights & Dignity
The degree to which the service upholds residents' human rights, dignity, privacy, and freedom from discrimination or restrictive/degrading treatment, in line with relevant disability and human-rights frameworks.
4 Mental Health & Wellbeing
How effectively staff recognise, respond to, and support residents' psychological and emotional wellbeing, including early identification of distress and appropriate referral pathways.
5 Documentation & Reporting
The completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of case notes, incident records, and care/support plans, and whether reporting obligations to SAPA and regulators are met.
6 Risk & Compliance
The provider's systems for identifying, managing, and mitigating operational and safety risk, and its overall compliance with relevant standards, legislation, and funding-body requirements.
7 Therapeutic Relationships
The quality of relationships between staff and residents — trust, consistency, respect, and a person-centred approach that supports positive engagement and behaviour.
8 Safe Practice & Emergency Response
The provider's readiness to prevent, respond to, and recover from safety incidents, including emergency/disaster procedures, manual handling, and incident escalation.
9 Leadership Capability
The strength of on-site and organisational leadership — supervision, decision-making, role modelling, and the ability to guide staff and manage change.
10 Workforce Development
The provider's investment in staff training, induction, supervision, and career development, and its ability to build and retain a skilled, stable workforce.
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