Improving Quality and Standards
We are one of several organisations providing support for people with learning disabilities that have signed up to an initiative called the Driving Up Quality Code, to ensure they aim beyond minimum standards to improve the lives of people in their care.
The Driving up Quality Code has been developed by members of the Driving Up Quality Alliance, in response to the abuse of people with learning disabilities at Winterbourne View private hospital in 2011, to ensure this can never happen again.
The Code was developed with support from: the Care Quality Commission, the Department of Health, the Association of Directors of Adults Social Services, the Challenging Behaviour Foundation and NHS England.
It sets out 5 key areas that indicate the practices of a good organisation:
- Support is focused on the person
- The person is supported to have an ordinary and meaningful life
- Care and Support focuses on people being happy and having a good quality of life
- A good culture is important to the organisation
- Managers and board members lead and run the organisation well
The Driving up Quality Code is voluntary and providers who sign up are required a public commitment to the principles of the code. Providers from the various sectors including housing, support, residential care and healthcare providers will be asked to self-assess against the code annually, and there will be a mechanism for anyone to challenge a provider.
Information about who has signed up to the Code and how organisations are working towards meeting the Code is publicly available on www.drivingupquality.org.uk.