Description
In Poland there is lack of standards of care for people with disabilities and there is need for broad discussion on this issue. The project objective is to empower vulnerable groups by improving the quality of activities undertaken by the association acting for adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems. Quality management system will be adapted to the requirements of the internal and external environment, defined through in-depth analysis of stakeholders' needs (clients and their families, employees, Management Board, government agencies, employers). The analysis will be focused on formal compliance of the activities, but first of all it will be focused on the quality of services, i.e. the way in which association staff support the clients, with what techniques and what resources. This component will be evaluated for adequacy, efficiency and compliance with the goals endorsed by the association. Once developed, the standard will be tested, perfected, and then disseminated as a good practice among similar organizations, with the purpose to initiate public debate on the standard of work with an intellectually disabled person.
Summary of project results
"Since 2006 Association Ognisko has its internal Quality Management System (QMS). Originally it complied with international ISO 9001:2008 and for 6 years it was a subject to external certification. With time it was observed that some requirements are inadequate towards changing operational conditions of a NGO acting for the people with disabilities. The Association resigned ISO and continued to manage through quality in a form of their own internal system. Following intensive development of the Organization the system's adequacy to the needs of the people it was to serve (clients, employees, management) had to be verified. The aim of the project was to improve the quality of the Association's activities through reconstruction of the internal QMS according to the conclusions from a thorough analysis of the internal and external stakeholders' needs. Thanks to the project realization a package of procedures, instructions and forms was created, which made a new system of the organization's quality management. Surveys, individual and group interviews were conducted with all stakeholders (substantive employees, operational staff, management, beneficiaries and their caregivers, representatives of public administration, employers hiring persons with disabilities through the Organization). On the basis of the collected data, a QMS including the new procedures and documents was worked out and implemented. The system consists of quality policy, a guide and 8 procedures with instructions and forms. 12 internal auditors trained during the project conducted 10 audits in the units run by the Organization. Two-day workshops promoting QMS were held for 12 persons from 7 social organizations from all Poland. A brochure on managing through quality in NGO was worked out and published (500 items). The project was concluded with a conference (119 persons). The Association's employees and clients benefited the project."
Summary of bilateral results