Staff Blog: Quality at Step Up
Welcome everyone, to the first edition of the ‘Step Up Blogs’. Many of us may question what we do to enhance or contribute to Quality within Step Up – well hopefully the more I go through the blog, this will enable everyone to see how all our employees and people we support contribute to the functions of Quality Assurance here at Step Up.
I joined Step Up in April 2021 as the Quality Manager. It has been comforting and reassuring to be welcomed into the organisation by all staff, and if I haven’t had the opportunity to meet you face to face yet, let’s hope it’s not too far away.
Since the organisation was established in 2013 the quality functions have continued to grow stronger and clearer, as we continue to monitor and evaluate current practices and methods behind our core functions and identify new ways in how we operate and practice whilst ensuring we remain compliant with our regulations. This has enabled us to improve our service and functionalities which is proactively championed by our Directors, Craig Devlin & Katrina MacVicar as both our directors are passionate about providing a quality service to all our service users and employees.
Quality Policy
Our Quality Policy focuses and highlights what we set out to achieve, and for us all to ensure that we follow the processes to ensure that we remain compliant and in tune with the Quality Policy. The Quality Policy also evidences how we will continue to meet the requirements of ISO 9001:2015. ISO 9001:2015 is our Quality Management System also known in abbreviated terms as ‘QMS’. ISO 9001:2015 forms a set of standards that helps Step Up ensure we continue to meet customer (people we support) and stakeholder (Care Inspectorate/Local Authority) needs and contractual obligations within statutory and regulatory requirements related to our service and how we deliver our support provision. Our QMS system allows us to improve, monitor and review our organisational policies, processes and aids us to achieve our Aims & Objectives and Quality Objectives & Processes.
Like any other policy and procedure within Step Up, it is a requirement in line with our Quality Management Processes that all Step Up’s policies & procedures, along with pertaining documents are reviewed and updated annually to ensure that the content is relevant and the document layout encompasses our branding. However, some may undergo this level of scrutiny at any time prior to a review date if there are necessary changes to the document.
Internal Audits
My role is to ensure that all aspects of the organisation are following due diligence in line with our policies, procedures and we aim to continually exceed our Quality Objectives & Processes and Aims & Objectives. Therefore, it is important that I follow a clear annual Internal Audit Report Schedule and conduct internal audits to ensure compliance throughout the organisation. This ensures that we are compliant against our Quality Manual, ISO 9001:2015 standards. At times the audits may show areas where we can improve and make efficiencies. Or conversely, these audits can highlight areas where we are excelling in certain areas and there are no changes to be made. My diary this year is full of internal audits already which is a key tool to ensure we continually improve, monitor and strive for the best and works towards our annual surveillance audit for reaccreditation for our ISO 9001:2015 status.
Covid-19 & Documentation
The last 22 months have been a challenging time for everyone. However, Step Up have continued to deliver high standard care and support to the people who use our service, and that is something that each and everyone of us should be proud to be part off.
We are not out of the pandemic just yet, therefore I will continue to be committed to deliver you weekly updates and continue to signpost you to our most up to date Strategy & Road Map along with Pamela (Area Service Manager). It is with the best intentions, that I do ask all employees of the organisation to keep abreast of the information within these two documents, along with Covid-19 Risk Assessments. These documents are there to protect you, people we support and the organisation.
Finally, thank you for taking the time to read my Quality Blog, if there is anything in particular you wish me to cover in any future ‘Quality’ blogs, please feel free to get in touch with me.
Thank you for all your commitment and hard work.
With best wishes,
