• Slough Quality Protects
• What is Slough Quality Protects?
• How does the scheme work?
• How will I know which groups have achieved the QA?
• What the groups have to say about Slough Quality Protects?

The Children and Young People’s forum has a membership of over 30 groups. The Forum which was established in 2009 is affiliated to the larger Slough Community Network for Slough’s voluntary groups and community organisations, where big and small organisations come together to share ideas and participate in decision making in Slough.

Its purpose is to bring together a wide range of Children and Young People’s groups to empower and encourage them to come together through the Children and Young People’s Voluntary Sector Forum in order to have a concerted impact on decision making in Slough and to have one voice through a forum.

For further information contact Jesal Dhokia, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Slough CVS on 01753 524176 or e-mail jesal@sloughcvs.org.uk

• Click here to download the constitution
  
• Click here for information on Slough Community Network
  
• Click here to understand how the Network feeds into the Priority Delivery Groups

Slough Quality Protects

What is Slough Quality Protect?

The Slough Quality Protects programme has been developed by the Slough Children and Young People’s Voluntary Sector Forum to help organisations to demonstrate the standard and quality of their work in a coherent and consistent way.

The programme will be actively promoted so that it is recognised and can be used when applying for funding or seeking to otherwise engage or work with outside bodies.

The process is designed to help organisations to think about and clarify their principles and values and to be able to show this in their day to day operation.

The aim is to provide a progressive programme for local community and voluntary organisations to work through to help them to demonstrate to users, staff, volunteers, funders, sponsors, statutory organisations and influential bodies the quality of their services. Working through the programme will also help to develop good practice and promote a high standard of work with children and young people.

How does the scheme work?

It may be considered to be a journey; organisations move from bronze to platinum in stages as follows:

• BRONZE - To show that minimum standards are in place, the emphasis here is upon:
o the development of policies and procedures,
o ensuring that the management committee is showing good leadership
o that the training of staff and volunteers is taken seriously
o there is regular review and planning.

• SILVER - At this stage organisations will be:
o developing further basic policies and procedures in response to the needs of the users
o showing that it is keeping up to date with changes and developments
o collaborating with others
o undertaking regular reviews
o quality of service to users is demonstrable

• GOLD – The organisation now:
o is clear about its principles and values,
o has its policies and procedures in place that are fit for the purpose
o staff development and training is part of the culture.
o the strong and confident organisation is able to more fully involve young people in decision making
o discuss its work with funding agencies and the statutory authorities
o work in partnership to promote the needs of its clients

• PLATINUM – Now it is time to embark upon an external, local, regional or national accreditation scheme and work toward achieving a “Quality Mark”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How will I know which groups have achieved the QA?

Bronze

Family Action

Silver

Family Action

Gold

Destiny Support

Family Action

Kinara Housing

Means of Survival

SWIPE

Platinum

Aik Saath

Berkshire Association of Clubs for Young People

Homestart Slough

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Groups receiving their Slough Quality Protects certificates
at the Award ceremony in October 2009

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Means of Survival presented with their certificate at the
Children and Young People's Forum in February

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Family Action presented with their certificate at the
Children and Young People's Forum in February

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What the groups have to say about Slough Quality Protects?

“It is so great to finally have a tool that enables the voluntary and community sector to have the ability to tell everyone how safe, effective and up to date it really is. VCS organizations already deliver such incredible work the Slough Quality Protects is just the final box to tick- BACYP was proud to be a part of the creation and is even prouder to have completed its Quality Protects. We would recommend any VCS organization that is trying to grow, trying to get funding and who is delivering work with children and young people not think twice and sign up today to Slough Quality Protects.”

Debbie Hill, Youth Volunteering Development Manager - East Berkshire
Berkshire Association of Clubs for Young People

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It was worthwhile.

I think we had taken a few things for granted and the award was a very useful objective to focus on doing some much needed spring cleaning and health checking.

The format of the award is easy to understand and lends itself well to collation of evidence in a systematic way.

Although we use the PQASSO system it felt that the Slough QP approach was more meaningful and focused in on the things that really mattered such as training and recruitment of staff and key policies and procedures.

The approach was positive and encouraging and has motivated us to progress with the award to a higher level."

John Mullin, Regional Manager (South West)
Family Action

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It was extremely worthwhile to go through this process and we were delighted to receive our award."

Janine Edwards, Scheme Manager
Home-Start Slough

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It was a fantastic experience for our staff and our volunteers. It really made us think about our organisation. We are very pleased to have gone through this process."

Monica Siso, Director – Charity Development
Means of Survival and Development

Links

Link to Slough Children's Trust website

Link to Slough Children and Young People's Service Directory