The Only Way is Up - Raising the Standards Implementing Quality Standards Across Supported Employment Stella Maguire, Head of Training Services, Eastern Area

Some Definitions Standards – a level of requirement Quality – a degree of excellence Quality Standard – The level required to achieve a degree of excellence

Ignore Quality Standards at Your Peril! Quality is an investment If your organisation stops improving it starts failing Everything can be improved Good is not good where better is expected Quality is never an accident

Quality Standards – Today’s Workshop Quality Standards at organisational / business level - generic Quality Standards at model level - specific

Specific - natureGenericSpecific - aspect STANDARDS Quality Standards – a bewildering array?

Quality Standards in Organisational Context Case Study example: Raising the Standards Application of Quality Standards within the Cedar Foundation to promote continuous improvement

Voluntary organisation Service provider Over 1,200 customers per year Regional Services Commitment to continuous improvement

The Cedar Foundation’s Quality Management System Vision Values Mission Policy Strategy Organisational Scorecard Service Level Scorecards

The Cedar Foundation’s Quality Management System Organisational Scorecard Service Level Scorecards Action and Delivery Planning and Management Key Performance Results Service Level and Support Procedures Core and Support Processes Internal and External Review

Raising the Standards – using quality standards to drive improvement European Foundation of Quality Management –

European Foundation for Quality Management Model introduced in 1992 Practical tool to establish appropriate management system Assessment against the model allows organisations to: Measure where they are Help them to understand gaps Stimulate solutions

EFQM Excellence Improvement Key Performance results Key Performance results People results People results Customer results Customer results Society results Society results Innovation and Learning Results Enablers Processes Policy & Strategy Policy & Strategy Leadership People Partnership & Resources Partnership & Resources

RADAR Assess and Review approaches and their deployment Determine Results required Plan and develop Approaches Deploy approaches

EFQM in Northern Ireland Managed by the Centre for Competitiveness ( Committed to Excellence Steps to Excellence Mark of Excellence NI Quality Award European Quality Award

Investors in People –

Investors in People Developed in 1990 by National Training Task Force Level of good practice for training and development of people to achieve business goals Principles include: Commitment, Planning, Action and Evaluation Process: review against standard, commitment to meet standard, planning and taking action, gathering evidence for assessment Bi-annual review

International Organization for Standardization (ISO 9000) –

International Organisation for Standardisation World’s largest developer of standards, established 1947 Principally technical standards, but ISO 9001:2000 has generic application ISO 9001: concerned with quality management: Customer quality requirements Applicable regulatory requirements Enhancing customer satisfaction Achieving continual improvement Options for conformity assessment – self, customer or independent. ISO itself does not carry out assessments

European Quality in Rehabilitation Mark –

European Quality in Rehabilitation Mark Initiative of European Platform on Rehabilitation ( pilot 2003www.epr.be Based on EFQM – 9 principles, evidence in policy and 5 sub-criteria Levels of accreditation – Committed to EQRM and EQR Mark Application, self-assessment, site visit and review by Awarding Committee Focus on approach, deployment and results Mark valid for 3 years

Charter Mark – uk

Commission on Accreditation of rehabilitation Facilities –

Why Use Quality Standards – Cedar’s Experience Enhanced service quality Improved levels of customer satisfaction Improved levels of staff satisfaction / motivation Competitive advantage through improved performance Recognition of concept of ‘continuous improvement’ Public recognition Improved effectiveness of service delivery Opportunity to benchmark and rationalise targets Framework for planning future strategy and action

The Only Way Is Up - Raising The Standards The Only Way Is Up - Raising The Standards Teresa Hazzard Service Manager - Vice Chair -

Through the Decade 10 Years of Growth Disability to Disadvantage Vocational training to Employment National and European Associations

EUSE Membership 16 National Associations Austria - Czech Republic - England Finland - Germany - Greece Iceland - Ireland - Italy Netherlands - N. Ireland - Norway Portugal - Scotland - Spain - Sweden Project to develop Quality Standards 2004

Developing Quality Standards for Supported Employment Defining Supported Employment Values And Principles underpinning Supported Employment The Process of Supported Employment

Developing Quality Standards for Supported Employment The Outcomes of Supported Employment Development of A Code of Ethics Agreement of Quality Standards

What is Supported Employment? EUSE defines as: ‘providing support to people with disabilities or other disadvantaged groups to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market’

Values and Principles underpinning Supported Employment Values and Principles underpinning Supported Employment Empowerment,Social inclusion Dignity and respect. Individuality,self-determination and informed choice Accessibility,confidentiality and flexibility

Process of Supported Employment Process of Supported Employment Engagement Vocational Profiling Job Finding Employer Engagement On / Off Job Support

Outcomes of Supported Employment Outcomes of Supported Employment A paid job is secured by the individual A good job match has been secured The individual is seen as a valuable team member Social,economic and community integration is achieved

A Professional Code of Ethics A Professional Code of Ethics Professional Competence Integrity Equality of Opportunity Confidentiality Empowerment and self-advocacy Social Responsibility

Quality Standards Quality Standards Developed by members of National Associations in 2004 Agreed by Executive Board of EUSE Transferable throughout Europe Intended to benchmark the level required to achieve a degree of excellence in delivery of supported Employment

A Framework for Quality Standards A Framework for Quality Standards The Supported Employment: Organisation Process Outcomes

A Framework for Quality Standards Standard Statement Performance Indicator Sources of Evidence

Organisational Quality Standard Organisational Quality Standard The leadership and management set clear direction that leads to delivery of a high quality service. The organisation recognises,promotes and values stakeholder involvement in planning and decision-making at all levels within the organisation

Organisational Quality Standard Organisational Quality Standard The organisation is committed to protecting the rights of people with disadvantage. A quality service is delivered by a range of professional and competent staff at all levels within the organisation.

Process Quality Standard Process Quality Standard Engagement The person with the disadvantage has received in an appropriate manner, all the information needed to decide about using the Supported Employment Provider.

The process Quality Standard Vocational Profile A person centred approach is used to collect relevant information about the individual’s aspirations,interests and abilities for work. Individuals are supported to make informed and realistic choices about work and future career development An individual and flexible plan is developed with each job seeker.

The Process Quality Standard Job Development Appropriate training and support is made available to the individual to find a job. The individual is supported to find the best possible job.

The Process Quality Standard Employer Engagement The employer is supported to find the best person for the job.

The Process Quality Standard On / Off Job Support Employee’s training and support is appropriate and effective and encourages workplace independence and progression

Outcomes Quality Standard The job seeker finds and sustains a job in the ordinary labour market. The employee is a valued and full member of the workplace team. The employee has opportunities for career development.

The Organisation Indicators The organisation recognises,promotes and values stakeholder involvement in planning and decision-making at all levels within the organisation There is a comprehensive policy & plan for stakeholder involvement representative of all partners in the SE process & representative of all degrees of disadvantage. Stakeholder user groups are developed & supported to participate in planning & decision making at all levels within the organisation. Regular feedback is collected from users about their experiences of the service, including complaints and suggestions.

The Process - Engagement Indicators Person with the disadvantage has received in an appropriate manner, all the information needed to decide about using the SE provider Service is located in an accessible & dignified building within an integrated community. Staff welcome in a friendly,positive,respectful and dignified manner. Staff identifies & supports communication needs. The person in relation to dates.times,venues,participants and agendas, controls the meeting. Person is supported to express views,opinions & ask questions. Accessible information is available on all aspects SE, the provider, & the local employment market. An accessible Service Level Agreement is produced

The Process - Vocational Profile An individual flexible plan is developed with each job seeker. Plan has been developed and agreed with individual & produced in accessible format. Individual is fully supported to participate in development of plan. All aspects of plan reflect individual’s interests, aspirations & skills for work. The plan sets out an employment goal & objectives and describes planning options to achieve these. Plan clearly defines supports & resources required to meet individual’s needs to achieve job goal. Plan identifies ‘relevant’ others to assist achievement of goals. Individuals are supported to direct their plan to the maximum extent. Appropriate time scales & opportunities to review & amend plan are in place. All individuals have signed copy of their own plan & decide what others receive copy.

The Process - Job Development Appropriate training and support to find a job is made available to the job seeker. Training & support to complete a range of job search activities is available to individual. Individual controls his/her level of participation in the job application and recruitment process. Individuals are assisted to participate to their maximum in their own job development & employer contact activities regardless of their degree of disadvantage. Individuals are trained to communicate & negotiate personal terms & conditions with employers to meet their own needs.

The Process - Employer Engagement [1] The employer is supported to find ‘the best person’ for the job An employer profile is used to define employer’s needs,job requirements& work environment Role of SE provider is marketed to & understood by employer. Information,advice & training is available to employer on disability, disadvantage & ant- discriminatory practice. Workplace staff are supported & trained to support the employee with disadvantage through the development of ‘ natural support’ strategies. People with disadvantage are positively promoted with employers

The Process - Employer Engagement [2] The employer is supported to find ‘the best person’ for the job Employers are supported to identify appropriate jobs thru the use of job carving / job creation. Individuals with disadvantage are trained & supported to provide awareness training to employers. Employer has on-going access to SE provider. Opportunities to develop job trials and job shadows are developed. Employer to employer networks are established. Feedback on the SE process & experience is collected from employer.

The Process - On / Off Job Support [1] The employee’s training and support is appropriate and effective and encourages workplace independence and progression S E provider works with employee to identify preferred training & learning approaches to meet needs. Staff employ a range of preferred learning & support approaches which are discreet & fading in nature. An accessible training & action plan is produced. All supports & assistive technology used are typical for the workplace & are performance & status enhancing for the employee.

The Process - On / Off Job Support [2] The employee’s training and support is appropriate and effective and encourages workplace independence and progression Support & training is flexible & is available to develop relationships in out of workplace. Employee is supported in all typical employee induction,probation,performance & development procedures. Support & training is available to enable employees to participate in workplace social events & employer sponsored activities. Employees are supported to negotiate self terms & conditions according to individual needs.

Outcomes The job seeker finds and sustains a job in the ordinary labour market. There is a valid and stable contract of employment agreed by the employer and the employee. The contract of employment reflects the job seekers preferences for working days,hours,holidays,work patterns and where possible rates of pay. The employee receives the same rate of pay and job benefits as other employees doing the same job. The employee remains in the job for a minimum of six months.

Conclusions Assessment against the standards allows SE provider to : Measure where they are; Identify gaps & develop improvement plan. Dissemination of EUSE STANDARDS.