Quality

Quality Group

Platform members have come together to form a virtual Quality Group to lead collaborative action on quality issues in the NGO sector.

Terms of Reference for the Platform Quality Forum - Ratified May 2007
Introduction:
The Platform Quality Forum is a group developed to promote quality initiatives within the NGO – Mental Health sector.
The Platform Quality Forum was initiated in October 2005, after a need was identified by the Platform Board Executive, and a number of Platform members.  Consensus was that enhanced input was required from the ‘coal face’ of NGO mental health services, to provide direction in progressing quality initiatives in the sector. 

The first forum meeting took place in Hamilton on the 12th October 2005 at Wise Management Services, where eight Platform members were represented.  

Chairperson / Secretary:
The Chairperson and Secretary of the Platform Quality Forum will be appointed by forum members at a Forum Meeting.The appointment of Chairperson and Secretary will normally be for a 12-month period.

Responsible To:
The Platform Quality Forum is accountable to the Executive Committee of Platform, and therefore ultimately responsible to the member organisations of Platform.  

Function and Purpose of the Platform Quality Forum
The group functions and purpose:
• Provide leadership guidance in the development of strategic quality initiatives. 
• Peer contact.
• Internal critique / peer reviews.
• Knowledge sharing and building.
• Provide expert advice to the Platform Executive and employees on quality issues.
• Sharing information from attended conferences and training
• Provide update information on what is happening in the sector – including Ministry of Health updates, Standards Review etc.
• Establish a united voice for the sector.
• Developing strengths within the sector.
• Training and mentoring of quality staff.
• Gaining confidence to share information and tools.
• Articulate quality objectives for the sector.
• Define for NGO’s “What is a Quality Service” and “What would they look like?”
• At a future point there is the potential for the Platform Quality Forum to provide an external overview of member organisations CQI plans.

Authority:
The role of the Platform Quality Forum is predominantly, advisory, supportive and educative and as such has no authority to make decisions apart from those related to its own operation / function. 

Timeframes, Reporting and Deadlines
Meetings will be held over the course of a day four times a year, with a minimum of five Forum members in attendance.  Meetings will be structured (with a pre-circulated agenda) and may be held in conjunction with training, site visits, and guest speakers.  To maximize potential attendance and control costs Platform Quality Forum meetings may be attached to other mental health sector, “quality” or Platform events.

The Forum will investigate use of teleconferences and other alternative meeting methods where appropriate.  

Locations and venues will be shared between main centers, with Platform services from that region “hosting” the meeting.  Consensus on specific meeting arrangements will be sought at Forum meetings.

Forum Composition:
The group should comprise of representatives of Platform member organisations, who are either Quality Professionals or people who have a quality focus, as part of their role within the NGO mental health sector.  The Forum acknowledges that there will be active and passive members.  The “active” group will regularly attend and participate in Forum initiatives, while the “passive” members will remain in contact via email communication and occasionally attend meetings. 

From time to time the Forum may invite participation from non-Forum / non-Platform organisations in the discussion of relevant issues. 

Staff Support:
Essentially, secretarial and organisational functions will be provided on an “as-needs” basis by member organisations.  Limited Platform staff support will be available from time to time.

Other Resources:
The home service of Platform Quality Forum members will cover the costs of participation in Forum activities.

Communication:
Minutes of all Platform Quality Forum Meetings will be lodged with the Platform head Office, and be available to all members via the Platform website www.platform.org.nz

The Chairperson of the Platform Quality Forum will provide a yearly report to be tabled at the Platform Annual General Meeting.

Terms of Reference Approval and Review:
The Terms of Reference will be approved by the next available Platform Quality Forum meeting, and then reviewed 12-monthly from the date of approval.

The group are interested in furthering some of the key issues that impact on the quality of life of people who use NGO services. An example of this is the increase in diabetes. Dr Colin Hayes from Framework Trust will develop a paper on this subject. If you want to know more about this group please contact Lara Young or admin   "at" platform.org.nz