Quality and accreditation
Quality Assessment Framework (QAF)
From 1 April 2009 the Kent Supporting People team is using the new
Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) as one of its tools when
monitoring and reviewing contracted services.
The revised framework has 5 core objectives which have replaced
and incorporated the previous core objectives and supplementary
objectives. As usual, we'll be sending out the self assessment
proforma prior to April next year and asking providers to complete
and return the form for their service. Services that self-assess at
a higher grade than the current Supporting People team-assessed
grade will be treated as a priority for monitoring and review.
The following circumstances will also lead to a prioritised
review:
- Cause for concern such as safeguarding alerts, complaints or
serious incidents.
- Defaults through non-return of workbooks by the due date or
where workbook returns demonstrate poor key performance
indicators.
- Failure to make expected outcome framework returns.
- Failure to adhere to the Kent Reconnection Policy.
Quality Assessment Framework documentation
Accreditation
The Supporting People team needs to be satisfied that its
support providers are financially viable and that they have the
appropriate policies and procedures in place to enable the
organisation to work effectively and use the funding correctly. All
existing support providers have again been successfully accredited
for the current contract period that terminates at the end of March
2011.
From time to time there may be opportunities for support
providers to tender for new services. When such opportunities occur
we will publish the process that organisations, which are new to
the Supporting People programme in Kent, will need to follow in
order to become accredited. We will generally passport
organisations through the process if they have current
accreditation with another Supporting People administering
authority, although we may require additional information.