in association with

Gupta Consultancy

Best Value and Quality Assured Social Services

A two day course for up to 21 people,
for managers, policy staff, trainers and supervisors
in commissioning and providing agencies

UNDERSTANDING BEST VALUE;
PLANNING FOR ACTION
SETTING STANDARDS;
EVALUATING RESULTS.

This course essentially combines the successful SSSP one day course on Best Value with the equally successful and long established introduction to Quality Assurance by Himu Gupta. It is participative and interactive and relies for its success on helping participants to understand how best to reframe what they already know to put Quality Assurance in the context of Best Value.

UNDERSTANDING BEST VALUE

The opening session focuses on understanding

PLANNING FOR ACTION

Using the learning from the first session, and working in task groups, participants identify key Best Value issues for them personally and for the agency. Then they use the issues they have identified to devise a real programme of action in outline.

SETTING STANDARDS

Once a programme is in place its course must be plotted and checked. Standards must be established and audited for deviations and unexpected consequences: the first task for the second day.

EVALUATING RESULTS

Changes in the quality of the service can only be evaluated in relation to their impact directly on service users. It may be meeting the standards set by the agency and by Government but is it making life better for clients? The final part of the day addresses the implications of evaluation.

THE COURSE LEADERS

Keith Fletcher has been involved in facilitation, review and training in social services for many years and has majored in Best Value for the past two and a half years. He has written "Best Value Social Services", "Negotiation for Health and Social Services Professionals" and "Child Protection: a change of emphasis". He has a regular column in "Community Care" Magazine. He was formerly Deputy Chief Inspector in the Social Services Inspectorate for Wales.

Himu Gupta is the co-author of "Quality Assurance for Social Care Agencies" and has written extensively on the subject in the professional press. He is a consultant specialising in quality assurance with an international reputation. He was formerly Assistant Director of Social Services (Quality and Staff Development) for Norfolk County Council.

COURSE MATERIAL

The cost includes a full pack of course material and free copies of "Best Value Social Services; a handbook" by Keith Fletcher (ISBN 0 9533002 1 8, normally £9.00) and "Quality Assurance for Social Care Agencies" by Emlyn Cassam & Himu Gupta (ISBN 0 582 08944 1, normally £18.00) for each participant.

ARRANGING A COURSE

If you would like to discuss the possibility of a course in your agency we would be delighted to hear from you. Call, fax or e-mail SSSP and arrange for a discussion with Keith about your specific requirements, the numbers you had in mind and the jobs the people do.

The normal fee for this course is £1995 (£95 per head approx) plus VAT, with a 15 % reduction for voluntary organisations. We may be able to offer useful suggestions about obtaining partial funding in some cases.
 
 

© SSSP Ltd., September 2003