Our Quality Standards in Service and Governance

For us, quality is a factor in everything we do. We want to provide the best services to people who need them, as well as being an excellent employer to our staff team. As such, we always want to challenge ourselves and undergo external quality assessment across all areas of our work. The following shows how we well we are doing, but also how we are always looking to improve.

Mind Quality Mark (MQM)

MQM is the quality management assessment carried out by National Mind on Local Minds across England and Wales. There are many reasons why holding the MQM is important to us. Participation provides a clear benchmark for us to demonstrate to external agencies and commissioners that we are operating in line with our policies and with the needs of the communities being served. The MQM means that National Mind can guarantee a level of service across its network of Local Minds to all users irrespective of where they access them.

Advocacy Quality Performance Mark (QPM)

HEH Mind holds “The Advocacy Quality Performance Mark”. This award is only given to organisations offering independent advocacy who can demonstrate that they provide excellent services in line with QPM standards and the Advocacy Charter.

The QPM is a quality assurance assessment for providers of independent advocacy in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is based on the principles contained in the Advocacy Charter and the Advocacy Code of Practice, enabling providers to demonstrate how they are meeting the different standards. The QPM has been reviewed and re-launched following consultation with advocacy providers, national stakeholders and commissioners.

This is the 4th edition of the QPM and it was formally launched in May 2018. It has been updated to reflect changes in both practice and legislation as well aiming to ensure its continued effectiveness in supporting a diverse advocacy sector to deliver high quality independent advocacy provision.

Charter for Employers who are positive about mental health

Havant and East Hants Mind has signed the Charter for Employers who are positive about mental health

As an employer we recognise that in the UK people experiencing ill health continue to report stigma and discrimination. We are committed to creating a supportive and open culture where colleagues can talk about mental health

We are also committed to ensuring that our employees feel safe in disclosing any mental health conditions and confident that they will be properly supported and offer reasonable adjustments when required

As an employer we aim to:

• Show a positive and enabling attitude to employees and job applicants with mental health issues. This will include positive statements in local recruitment literature.
• Ensure that all staff involved in recruitment and selection are briefed on mental health issues, The Equality Act 2010 and are given appropriate interview skills.
• Make it clear in any recruitment or occupational health check that people who have experienced mental health issues will not be discriminated against and that disclosure of a mental health problem will enable both employee and employer to assess and provide the right level of support or adjustment.
• Not make assumptions that a person with a mental health issue will be more vulnerable to workplace stress or take more time off than any other employee or job applicant.
• Provide non-judgemental and proactive support to individual staff who experience mental health issues.
• Ensure all line managers have information and training about managing mental health in the workplace

UK Code for Sports Governance

HEH Mind now meets the UK’s new gold standards of governance for organisations delivering sport and physical activity. These standards are considered to be among the most advanced in the world. “The New UK Code for Sports Governance” sets out the levels of transparency, accountability and financial integrity that will be required from those who ask for Government and National Lottery funding from April 2017 onwards. The award promotes

• Increased skills and diversity in decision making, with a target of at least 30 per cent gender diversity on boards
• Greater transparency, for example publishing more information on the structure, strategy and financial position of the organisation
• Constitutional arrangements that give boards the prime role in decision making