12th Conference EUSE Lisbon 2015

1. “ Improving Diversity through
Supported Employment ”

2. Promoting quality in the
supported employment
sector across the UK – our
journey so far
Nerise Oldfield-Thompson &
Kathy Melling
hosted by:
In association with:

3. What is quality in supported employment?
The British Association for
Supported Employment
(BASE) believes that
good quality in
supported employment
is adhering to the
supported employment
model

4. The Journey So Far

5. National Occupational Standards in the UK
• Provide the statements of skills and knowledge
needed by the supported employment workforce
• Do not equate to qualifications, but can be used to
inform and underpin qualifications
• Performance criteria, and knowledge and
understanding statements
• Values statements and 8 sections which describe the
supported employment model

6. Developing the Qualification
• Worked with LSIS UK Qualifications and Skills team
• Brought an awarding body on board early in the
process
• Level 3 qualification developed – Certificate in
Supported Employment
• Approved by Ofqual and now on the Qualification
Credit Framework

7. The Qualification Units
• Core Values of Supported Employment
• Engaging Job-seekers in Supported Employment
• Working with Job-seekers to identify and plan for
supported employment
• Engaging employers in supported employment
• Job-matching and securing supported employment
• In-work support and career development for
supported employment

8. Current situation with qualification
• BASE developed systems and training in order to
deliver qualification
• Approved delivery centre with Gateway
Qualifications
• Delivering to over 150 learners
• 3 Internal Verifiers, 10 Assessors across the UK
• Aiming to get Direct Claims status July 2015

9. BASE Policy on Quality Standards
• All providers of specialist employment support
should be subject to inspection using a common set
of standards founded on evidence-based practice.
• Quality inspections should be proportionate and fit
for purpose. Best practice should be identified and
widely disseminated.
• Providers should adopt quality assurance processes
that are designed to enable benchmarking across the
sector.

10. Evidence of Need for Quality Standards
There is no nationally accredited quality mark at
present for supported employment service
providers. This is leading to many supported
employment providers working towards other
quality standards which do not fit, as these are often
required within commissioning arrangements.

11. What standards were reviewed

12. Benefits of the Quality Standards
• Fit with supported employment principles
• Could be used for procurement and tendering
processes as a Quality Mark that is recognised.
• Allows providers to examine their performance and
continually improve
• The standards will help individuals, supporters,
employers and other agencies identify the quality of
services they should expect and which provider
services are able to deliver that quality

13. Content within the Standards
The framework devised has 56 service standards over 5
key areas:
• Leadership & Management (11);
• Effective Use of Resources (10);
• Staff Capability & Competence (6);
• Engagement & Partnership (9)
• Model Fidelity (20).

14. What Next for BASE?
• To pilot with stakeholders to ensure standards are fit
for purpose
• Review lessons learnt and any adaptations required
• Set up costing for providers to go for accreditation
• Support organisations in meeting the standards and
continuously improving to strengthen their practice
• Work with commissioners to influence policy and
recognise quality provision in supported employment
• European tender for standards

15. Any Questions?????
For more information contact:
www.base-uk.org