Hot Topic
“The matrix Standard helped us to step back from the service and support students more holistically, by communicating better internally and working to a common framework.”
Student Services at Henley College Coventry
Click here to see what other organisations have to say about the matrix Standard
Keeping your resolutions
Now into a New Year is a good time to take stock of those resolutions you made last December. No doubt whatever you resolved was intended to make a situation ‘better’. Hopefully better for you as an individual, perhaps in the context of your personal, social or work life. In many instances you and your colleagues may have decided that your organisation will be better, bringing additional benefits for your service users. However well intentioned we may be, often the reality is that we lose the momentum, become overwhelmed by other commitments or divert our attention elsewhere.
There is the danger that for some Accredited organisations a similar pattern emerges. The euphoria of being Accredited wanes, other commitments assume importance, staff change and the matrix Standard slips from mind. And before you know it, three years has passed and you are in panic mode for Accreditation Review.
Such problems need not and should not exist if you recognise the true value of the matrix Standard. It should be there to underpin your business processes and to stretch you towards continuous quality improvement (CQI). Using team meetings and similar forums to discuss your progress against the Standard will keep it alive in the minds of your staff and will ensure that new members have an understanding of and contribute to its development. Continually using the feedback of service users and other agencies will also help you check the extent to which you are meeting their needs and whether you are accomplishing your aims and objectives.
And as a helpful prompt, the ‘after-care’ approach of ENTO is there to support you. The opportunity for you to network and experience CQI events will provide you with fresh thinking and the sharing of effective practice. Periodic calls from the Customer Service Team and contact from Regional Development Executives are designed to find out your needs. Encouragement is also there for you to self-review your organisations after 12 and 24 months.
So, if your New Year’s resolutions have not included reference to the matrix Standard make sure you add it to the list – this is one that you certainly can turn into reality.