The Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) has two main purposes:
- To provide a means for administering authorities (AAs) to assess the quality of services
- To encourage and facilitate the raising of standards within the sector
The QAF enables providers to demonstrate the continuous improvement of their services through use of a self-assessment toolkit. It is the national system by which South Gloucestershire Council will validate quality and ensure that a consistent minimum standard is achieved in all services. The requirement of providers to submit the requested information is contained within the Supporting People interim and steady state contracts.
Providers will have to self-assess their performance using the QAF and develop mechanisms for continuous improvement and user involvement. They will supply the administering authority with evidence to demonstrate how the service meets the standards laid down in the QAF. This evidence may be used by the local Supporting People Team when carrying out service reviews.
The six core objectives must be satisfied and they are:
- Needs and risk assessment
- Support planning
- Security, health and safety
- Protection from abuse
- Fair access, diversity and inclusion
- Complaints
- + 1 Discretionary – participation in the wider community
All providers are required to complete an electronic version of the QAF self-assessment on an annual basis. This should be submitted by email to spadmin@southglos.gov.uk by 21st January each year.
Providers who had their review within a current financial year are not required to complete the QAF self-assessment workbook for this year but they may submit it if they wish. If you are in any doubt please contact the Supporting People Team on 01454 865578.
For each service objective there is a set of standards against which providers assess their performance and identify which of 4 performance levels they meet. The performance levels are:
- A - excellent
- B - good practice
- C - minimum standard
- D - unacceptable
When using the QAF to evaluate services, the focus should be on continuous improvement. An action plan should be drawn up so that the service reaches the next performance level. To achieve performance level A the service must meet all the standards set out in levels C and B.
More information about the QAF can be found by going to the national Supporting People website.
See the 'Other websites' link on this page.