The Quality and Governance project supports Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) to implement Quality Assurance Systems (QAS). A QAS refers to a formal management system which can be used to strengthen an organisation. It is intended to raise standards of work and make sure everything is done consistently. To see more images click here.

A quality assurance system sets out expectations that a quality organisation should meet

In partnership with our Funding Advice Group Support Colleagues we held a themed Managers Meeting Point on the PQASSO quality system (Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations) on 9 April 2009 at Warwick Row United Reformed Church, Coventry.

The event attracted more than 25 managers from across Coventry to attend the ‘taster' session on PQASSO given by Mirella Grillo: Mirella is the Quality Mark Coordinator from Charities Evaluation Services (CES) who have produced PQASSO.

The session provided an overview of PQASSO which was established in 1997 for the UK Voluntary and Community Sector and is now becoming widely used internationally. It also covered how to implement this system and an introduction to the PQASSO quality mark.

PQASSO is described as a ‘holistic' system because it focuses on all activities and results of the organisation. PQASSO has 12 quality areas, including governance, user centred service, managing people and monitoring & evaluation. It is designed as a self assessment model but CES have very recently started to offer external accreditation for those groups that wish to have this (Quality Mark)

Feedback from the event was very positive with all participants stating that they found very/quite useful and all participants stating that they had a better understanding of PQASSO and were now able to make an informed choice about using it. Nine groups have shown an interest in implementing PQASSO.

If you would like more information on PQASSO or are interested in implementing this system, please contact Kate Harris on k.harris@vacoventry.org.uk. VAC is offering FREE* PQASSO workbooks (priced at £95.00 plus P & P) and some support for those groups interested in progressing with this standard.

*Limited number available: 'first come first served'.