Quality assurance

Part of your monitoring and evaluation process may include using a formal management system also known as a quality assurance system.

When the term 'quality assurance system' is used, it means a formal management system you can use to strengthen your organisation. It is intended to raise standards of work and to make sure everything is done consistently. A quality assurance system sets out expectations that a quality organisation should meet. Typically, these are the stages that organisations implementing a quality system aim to follow:

  • Agree on standards. These concern the performance that staff, trustees and users expect from the organisation.
  • Carry out a self-assessment. This means that you compare how well you are doing against these expectations.
  • Draw up an action plan. This will include what needs to be done, who will do it, how it will be done, and when.
  • Implement. Do the work.
  • Review. At this stage, you check what changes have been made and whether they have made the difference you were hoping to achieve.

PQASSO, Investors in People, the EFQM Excellence Model and the Quality Mark are all examples of 'off-the-shelf' quality assurance systems. Many organisations develop their own bespoke quality systems, either from scratch or by adapting one of the established off-the-shelf systems.

Links are shown for some of the setting specific quality systems that have been developed e.g. for childminders and pre-school settings. 

Useful links

National Youth Agency - Quality Exchange - VCS Engage funded the Quality Exchange workshop in May 2007.  The aims of the Quality Exchange were to offer participants an opportunity to hear more about quality systems tailor made for youth organisations and services for young people, and to exchange ideas about assuring quality in youth organisations.

Charities Evaluation Services Quality Evaluation System - PQASSO

EFQM Excellence Model

The Evaluation Trust was founded in 1990 to promote and undertake participatory evaluation.

Star Social Firm Quality Mark
NB The specific social purpose of a Social Firm is to employ people disadvantaged in the labour market.

Southampton Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership - 'Quality First' for Childminders

LondonPlay – Quality in Play (QA)

Pre-school accreditation and quality assurance scheme

Home Start’s Quality Standards

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