The DMCC Quality Mark
What the Quality Mark means
The Quality Mark is a local initiative developed by the community and voluntary service organisations in Teignbridge, South Hams and Torbay and funded by the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.
It is open to memory cafes in Devon which provide support, services and activities to improve the health and wellbeing of people in our communities.
This Memory Cafe Quality Assurance Scheme provides the opportunity to describe how your services are delivered and show the relevant policies and practices that your organisation applies to ensure safe, caring, effective, and responsive services.
This helps build confidence and awareness among health professionals and the public about the range and quality of health and wellbeing activities and services that can be accessed through memory cafes.
Application support is available from your local community infrastructure organisation. We can guide you through the process and signpost you to resources and best practice approaches to support your organisation towards achieving the Quality Mark.
Why should my memory cafe apply?
To receive recognition of the quality services you provide through a respected Memory Cafe Quality Assurance Scheme.
To instil confidence for people working in health and wellbeing to signpost people to other services, as well as make referrals or contracts for local services.
Better promotion of the voluntary services available.
Opportunity for small organisations to engage in the process.
Having all governance in one place can help with future planning and funding applications.
The application process
Register your interest via email to [email protected]. You will receive an email telling you where to send your completed application form and who your assessor will be.
Complete the application form and submit to your local office.
Take part in an assessment interview via a telephone call and/or a one-to-one session, where we will ask you about the sources of evidence to support your application.
Following the assessment interview, we will ask you to send us relevant supporting evidence (i.e. evidence that we do not already have or cannot access via public sources) and an account of your progress against the action plan (if issued).
Following the final submission of evidence (and progress against action plan – if issued), you will be contacted within six weeks to be notified of the outcome.
The measures of quality
The questions in the application form are based on five quality measures which constitute the components of well-led organisations providing safe and caring services:
- Organisation – management structure
- Supported and well-trained volunteers
- Engagement with clients and community
- Legal requirements – safe and caring practices
- Employment – recruiting and developing (for employer organisations only)
Frequently asked questions
Who is the awarding body?
We have an Awards Panels comprising representatives from six community infrastructure organisations in Devon. These are: Involve (Mid Devon), North Devon VS, South Hams CVS; Teignbridge CVS; Torridge TTVS; and West Devon CVS.
How long will the application take?
This will depend on the size of your memory cafe, the services/activities you offer and the types of evidence you can provide. Some organisations will be able to complete the application form within a few hours – for others it may take a little longer.
Upon receipt of your application form, you will be contacted within two weeks to set a date for an assessment interview. This interview will take up to two hours.
Following acknowledgement of the final sources of evidence, you will be informed of the outcome within six weeks.
The renewal process is straightforward and does not take much time. Upon completion you will receive a new certificate with a new date.
How long is the Certificate valid for?
The Quality Assurance Certificate is valid for 2 years. A re-accreditation application form will be sent to you every two years to ask if any significant changes have been made and to submit any relevant documents to evidence these changes.
How can my memory cafe display its Quality Assurance Mark?
You will be supplied with the Quality Mark logo for your own branding and publicity. All awardees will receive a certificate and a plaque, and you may choose to participate in promotional activity to promote the scheme in your locality. The names of all successful awardees will be posted here the DMCC website: dmcc.org.uk
What support is available?
A wide range of national organisations provide guidance to support the voluntary sector. Your local community support organisation and your nominated officer for the Quality Mark can support, advise and signpost you to the resources available to strengthen the management, governance and operations of your voluntary sector organisation
What if my memory cafe already has a quality assurance award?
If you run a memory cafe that has an existing quality assurance award in place, we will use your existing evidence where relevant to avoid duplication. It is likely you will only need to submit information about specific memory cafe activities and procedures.
If your memory cafe is integrated within a larger VCSE organisation, we would advise that the organisation has an up-to-date generic health and wellbeing QA as the policies will be the ones that your memory cafe will adopt.
How do I get started?
Register your interest by sending an email to [email protected].
Upon registering, we will contact Teignbridge CVS, who will arrange for you to be sent a welcome pack from your local office with application form, guidance notes, and a named officer to support you through the process.