5th edition of Spotlight - Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Quality Assessment Framework -
QAF2
SITRA were awarded the SP contract to deliver the
training on the new QAF2. Initial training for the
providers in the QAF2 Reading Group and also SP staff
took place during August – September 2010. The QAF2
Reading Group providers involved were then asked to
submit their returns for the new QAF2.
The desktop assessments and validation visits for
the QAF2 Reading Group returns were completed in
November. SP are grateful for the contribution and
feedback from the Reading Group providers who took
part in the QAF2 pilot. Feedback from those providers
involved in the pilot exercise was generally positive and
will assist with refining the administration for and the
general roll out of QAF2 from April 2011.
SITRA training events for all SP providers took place across
the 5 SP areas from November 2010 to January 2011.
SITRA guidance on QAF2 can be accessed on their website
http://www.sitra.org/fileadmin/sitra_user/2009/QAF/
Understanding_the_QAF_refresh_150110.pdf
The SP website will continue to be updated to include
guidance and documentation for all providers in advance
of their QAF2 submission.
http://www.nihe.gov.uk/supporting_people-3.htm
A Regional Outcomes
Framework for NI
The potential for SP providers to use outcomes
monitoring and distance travelled models.
In 2007 Communities and Local Government
(CLG) adopted an outcomes approach to the
monitoring of the SP programme.
In 2009 work commenced to develop options for the
Northern Ireland Outcomes Framework. To assess the
draft framework, SP operated a pilot study with a range
of organisations covering a variety of client groups and
service models. The 3 levels of outcomes against which
indicators were mapped were service user, service and
strategic outcomes.
NICVA have now completed a draft evaluation of the
pilot drawing on the experiences of the SP provider
organisations involved.
SP wish to thank the providers who participated in the
pilot exercise and now need to consider the evaluation
findings. The findings will help inform the approach for
the broader rollout of a Regional Outcomes Framework
for NI. SP will provide updates to the sector with
developments around this and future implementation
arrangements.
Nationally, information on outcomes for clients of the
full range of SP services is now widely available. In the
future, SP providers in Northern Ireland can also expect
outcomes information to become part of the normal
discourse about services and to be a standard part of
service contracts and contract monitoring.
As well as the organisations who participated in the pilot
exercise many other SP providers in NI have also begun
to invest time and resources in researching outcomes
models across the UK and implementing the outcomes
approach in their services.
QAF2 training in the Millenium Centre, Loughgiel.
Claire Crainey, Supporting People
claire.crainey@nihe.gov.uk
In this edition of SP Spotlight, MindWise and Women’s
Aid in Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and
Newtownabbey (A, B, C, L & N) share their experiences of
developing and implementing an outcomes monitoring
approach to their service.
Julie Alexander, Supporting People
julie.alexander@nihe.gov.uk
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