Office of Social Services - Standards

Safety and Quality is at the heart of the work of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and is central to all areas of health and social care. The standards documents below have been produced under the auspices of the Office of Social Services to further promote safety and quality in the arena of professional practice, interagency working, where appropriate, and in the safe and effective delivery of children's and community care services.

The child protection standards are applicable to all public bodies, organisations, professionals and persons who provide statutory services to children. They also establish a framework of best practice in child protection for voluntary, community and independent sector organisations and practitioners (including counsellors and therapists working in a private capacity) who work with or have significant contact with children and young people. They should also help families and members of the public understand how services work to protect children and the important contribution they themselves can make to the safeguarding of children and young people.

Support for carers is a central policy objective for the Department. These standards will complement other published standards with regard to practice and social care service provision. They will be of use to Commissioners and Providers of social care support services for carers; social care workers; regulatory and training providers and most importantly to carers and their representative groups to inform them of what they can and should reasonably expect from social care support services and from the organisations and practitioners commissioning and providing them.

The involvement of consumers presents real challenges for all organisations in the health and social care sector. The benefits to be gained from effective consumer involvement include improved targeting of care, the creation of greater choice, improvements in quality and the promotion of social inclusion, equality and public accountability. Published in April 1999, the standards provide guidance for successful consumer involvement. Organisations seeking to improve consumer involvement will find them useful for both audit and developmental purposes.

Published in October 1999, the standards for assessment and care management and hospital discharge are derived from Government policy, legislation and principles of good practice; and are informed by consultation with a wide range of key professionals in hospitals and community settings, the views of service users and their carers and experience gained from inspection work. They will be of value to all professionals involved in assessment and care management and will provide a useful audit tool in monitoring these arrangements.

Further information can be accessed at Safety, Quality and Standards.