quality mark:
how it was developed

quality mark:
how it was developed

In 2006 the Department of Health funded Shared Lives Plus to manage a three-year micro markets project. This project revealed the requirement for a quality marking process that is tailored for micro social care enterprises.

an accessible approach to quality marking which is comprehensive and robust

This resulted in a second phase, managed by Community Catalysts, which focussed on developing and testing an approach to quality marking.
We knew that most micro-providers do not fit neatly into the definition of social care or support services. We needed an approach to quality marking that was accessible and appropriate to many service types whilst also being comprehensive and robust.

The work to develop and test an approach to quality marking began with a scoping exercise. The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) produced a report evaluating other quality assurance and accreditation systems. This was used to agree the principles that should underpin a Quality Mark for micro social care and support providers. A reference group made up of key personnel and stakeholders (including key individuals and organisations with an interest in personalisation, safeguarding, colleagues from Kent and Oldham and micro and larger providers) examined the report and made recommendations based on it, and their own experience with micro enterprise and social care and support services.

recommended approach

The reference group recommended that any approach to quality marking should:

1. Have clear objectives
2. Offer the opportunity for development to providers
3. Be simple and cheap to join and use
4. Challenge false opposites; for example that a simple approach cannot also be robust
5. Ensure that customer feedback is absolutely central
6. Have an emphasis on values and outcomes for individuals.
7. Offer customers the tools to assess risk and quality for themselves
8. Have credibility with all stakeholders including customers, supporting professionals, commissioners, regulators and micro providers
9. Integrate with other regulatory and legislative frameworks
10. Have robust and effective sanctions
11. Be accessible and relevant for a range of different service types
12. Be as relevant to self funders as those with a personal budget

These guiding principles formed the basis of the 3 stage process that was subsequently developed, successfully tested, and is now used by other local authorities who have adopted the Quality Mark.

3 stage process

1. Preparation – support and information
2. Gateway – application and assessment process leading to a silver Quality Mark
3. People – continuous improvement based on user feedback leading to a gold Quality Mark

The Quality Mark was piloted in 2009/10 with the support of Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council.

For more information contact us on 01423 790126.

related links
> quality mark
> quality mark: the process
> quality mark: key features
> quality mark manual