Call Us On
01332 404040
FAQ
What are the benefits of going through this process?
With the Personalisation agenda gaining more traction we are seeing an increasing number of organisations entering the social care marketplace. Becoming accredited will help you to stand out from the crowd. Because CredAbility was designed and developed by disabled and older people we feel it is a mark that will be easily recognised by people searching for goods and services in the marketplace.
The other thing that accreditation and compliance with the CredAbility Charter does, is to prove to your customers and the wider public that you are pro-active in your commitment to disabled and older people.
I already have an (industry specific) accreditation why should I register for CredAbility?
Even though you may have to register with certain bodies in order to be legally compliant, these systems do not always pro-actively engage your customers in providing feedbac. Feedback from your customers and others you work with will form the ongoing measure of the quality of your service. It will give an extra level of assurance to your customers and prove that in your work you take a pro-active commitment to disabled and older people.
I work for a very small organisation why do I have to adopt policies that are not required?
The amount of information required would be in direct proportion to the type of service and organisation. Even though there is a long list of policies given as an example we only need to see the ones that apply to the specific provider. We are currently writing some additional guidance and considering separating the guidance from the application form. We are trying to achieve a balance to suit a wide range of providers. We always welcome feedback from the people using the forms.
What do my financial details have to do with quality assurance?
The rationale behind asking for account and financial information is two-fold. First we feel it is important to try to establish the sustainable potential of the organisation or individual providing the service. Even a new provider should have carried out some market research or done some thinking about the nature and size of their market. Secondly the turnover would also give an indication of the scale of operation and help us to determine the amount of information required for accreditation (for instance someone turning over £150,000 per year is likely to be employing staff and therefore would require Employers Liability Insurance). We will make sure to explain this in the guidance.
How can I be sure that my information will not be used by other organisations to gain a competitive advantage?
Because the CredAbility programme is managed by The Disability Syndicate we have procedures in place to ensure that provider information is kept confidential. We have a small dedicated CredAbility team that have exclusive access to the applications. In cases where we need to refer to senior management for clarification on an application we keep the provider anonymous and only provide information about the document or process that we are unsure about. The parts of the Disability Syndicate that provide services are also undergoing CredAbility accreditation and the same rigour applies to these applications as any other provider. The Syndicate works to a Managing Conflict of Interest policy which recognises our position in the marketplace as both a provider of service and a sign-post to other services.
How much does accreditation cost?
If you are providing services in either Derby or Nottingham your initial accreditation is free of charge due to a subsidy from your Local Authority. If you are delivering services outside of these areas please contact the CredAbility team at info@credability.uk.com or call 0115 958 3948.
Who does the accreditation?
Jules Sebelin, CredAbility Quality Assurance Manager
Jules brings her most recent experience assessing and developing quality systems for social enterprise advisers into the social care marketplace. With a comprehensive background in group development support, business planning and management, quality assurance and market identification Jules is well placed to ensure that the CredAbility system is both robust and fit for purpose across a broad range of provider organisations. Jules leads a small team of independent assessors and would be happy to discuss what accreditation can do for your business. Jules also works continuously with disabled and older people to monitor the service and to ensure that it is working well for them as the primary stakeholders
Latest News
Personalisation: Market Readiness workshops
Personalisation: The Market Readiness Series
Do you work for a VCS organisation, have heard...
Read more...
Free Disability Equality Training
Please click this link to find out more about Free Disability Equality training taking place in Derby,...
Read more...
Provider Hub meetings for 2013
Provider development:
As part of our commitment to maintaining an ongoing relationship with our accredited...
Read more...
ALH Legal at Disability Direct Carers event 27th November
Disability Direct will play host to a Carers coffee morning on Tuesday 27th November, from 10 until 12...
Read more...