Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Developing Healthy Communities NI
Tagline goes here
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
Contact us
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Our projects
      • WHO Healthy Cities
        • WHO European Healthy Cities
        • WHO Healthy Cities
      • Clear project
        • Clear Project
        • Clear training
      • Work Well Live Well
        • Work Well Live Well
      • Team Health
        • Team Health
        • Health Checks
      • Families Voices Forum
        • Families Voices Forum
        • Forum meetings
        • Community workshops and conferences
        • Consultations
        • Resources
        • Families' Voices blog
      • Public Health Agency Standards
    • Meet the team
      • Staff
      • Board members
    • Work with us
  • Training, events and grants
    • Grants
    • Events and conferences
    • Training for community and voluntary organisations
    • Training for workplaces
  • News, opinion and expertise
    • Mental Health
    • Urban and Rural Health
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Public Health Agency standards

Public Health Agency standards

At Developing Healthy Communities, we have been working with the Public Health Agency (PHA) since 2010 to develop and tailor a framework of Quality Standards within which any service providing mental and emotional wellbeing support and suicide prevention across Northern Ireland should operate.

PHA Quality Standards Latest News

Improving governance within organisations

The Quality Standards focus on improving governance arrangements within organisations to provide safe and effective practice for service users. They are regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with changing legislation or best practice. 

There are three main areas of the standards:

  • Setting minimum standards to strengthen services, practice and improve outcomes for service users
  • Improving governance arrangements and improve the way in which service providers across all sectors manage their business
  • Improving the way in which service providers are held to account for the services they provide

Previous organisations that have completed the Quality Standards framework have said:

“We owe it to the people we help and support to provide the best possible service and this framework is an excellent way of giving our service users the confidence in choosing where to seek help and our staff the guidance in how best to run an agency and deliver the services to a high standard.” Conor McCafferty, Zest

Setting a minimum standard of service

All organisations – public, private or charitable – funded by the PHA and who are supporting people with their mental and emotional wellbeing or engaged in suicide prevention should complete the Standards. These will set minimum standards of service, practice and improve outcomes for service users.

“The standards are a quality stamp achievement which in turn demonstrates an organisations’ professionalism, credibility and good governance which are essential elements in obtaining funding and contracts.”

A self-assessment process

The Quality Standards framework is completed as a 'self-assessment' process. Self-assessment means that you will complete your own evaluation of how the standards apply to your organisation and particular areas of expertise.

  • It requires you to read and apply the standards to your unique organisational goals. As you work through each step, online guidance will be provided.
  • The completed assessment forms are for the use of your organisation. Although they remain on this portal for reference, you do not need to submit your self-assessment forms unless you are chosen for an independent assessment.

Each year, a number of organisations are chosen at random for independent assessment.

  • Should your organisation be selected for an independent assessment, the assessor will contact you directly.
  • Independent assessments are in place to ensure the high quality of services provided.
  • Organisations chosen for independent assessment will have the ability to upload their supporting documentation to the portal.
  • The independent assessment involves an assessor accessing the information that you have submitted to the portal and requesting further evidence of how this information was gathered. This information and evidence will then be reviewed against the self-assessment requirements.

Core & additional standards

All organisations will complete the self-assessment on the ‘Core Standards’. These standards apply to all PHA funded Emotional Well Being and Suicide Prevention Projects and other services where considered appropriate. They cover:

  • Management & organisational governance
  • Employment & volunteering structures
  • Organisational practice & service delivery
  • Monitoring & evaluation
  • Communication processes

Depending on the nature of the projects you are working on, it may also be useful to complete some or all of the ‘Additional Standards’. These provide specific frameworks on:

  • Training
  • Self-harm services
  • Counselling
  • Complementary therapies
  • Bereavement support services
  • Bereavement support groups

Link to PHA Quality Standards 

Download the PHA Quality Standards

PHA Quality Standards Assessment Tool

PHA Quality Standards Website


Find out more

If you think your organisation could benefit from the Quality Standards, let us know and we will support you through the process.  Or if you want to attend an hour-long one-to-one session on the quality standards or find out more information, please contact the Clear Project on.

  • Email: [email protected]  
  • Tel: 07702 509 314

Published: 21st June, 2022

Updated: 23rd June, 2022

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Read the 'Voices of Hope' manifesto

    Read the 'Voices of Hope' manifesto

    How to turn grief into hope through actions that reduce suicide, according to the Families Voices Forum

  • Training Opportunities

    Training Opportunities

    Here you will find new training opportunities that are on offer.

  • Managing Mental Health in the Workplace for Managers

    Managing Mental Health in the Workplace for Managers

  • Celebrating 30 years of Developing Healthy Communities

    Celebrating 30 years of Developing Healthy Communities

    Looking back on an amazing series of 30th anniversary events (in pictures). This year we celebrated 30 years of Developing Healthy Communities through community participation, cooperation and consultation in local decision-making.

Most read

  • PHA Making Life Better Through Short Term Funding Programme

    PHA Making Life Better Through Short Term Funding Programme

    Applications for one-off PHA funding of up to £5,000 for Community & Voluntary groups are now open through the Clear Project. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.

  • Clear Project

    Clear Project

    Working in the Western Trust Area to prevent suicide, self-harm, drug and alcohol misuse.

  • Grant recipients information

    Grant recipients information

    Key information required on branding and reporting of your project's outcomes and successes.

  • Sports Group Grants

    Sports Group Grants

    Through the Clear Project, the PHA is offering constituted voluntary sector sports clubs in the Western Trust area an opportunity to avail of training, helping them to support their members and receive up to £300 worth of relevant sports equipment for their club.

  • Families' Voices Forum

    Families' Voices Forum

    Providing a strong, collaborative voice for those who live with the reality of suicide every day

  • What we do

    What we do

    About Developing Healthy Communities NI - its vision, purpose and approach

  • Training: ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

    Training: ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

    ASIST training is a two day interactive workshop in suicide first aid and more.

  • Training: safeTALK - Suicide Alertness For Everyone

    Training: safeTALK - Suicide Alertness For Everyone

    A half day suicide prevention training course that can help you make a difference.

  • Work Well Live Well

    Work Well Live Well

    A regional workplace health support service funded by the Public Health Agency, established in 2016 and delivering positive outcomes for businesses in the Western Trust.

  • Managing Mental Health in the Workplace for Managers

    Managing Mental Health in the Workplace for Managers

Tag cloud

Award 1 Award 2 Funding Grants Short Term Funding Short-term Funding

Latest tweet

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Derry – Londonderry

Building 83
Ledwidge Avenue
Derry -Londonderry
BT47 6GZ

T: 028 7141 3308
E: [email protected]

Strabane

Unit 13, Strabane Enterprise Agency
Orchard Road Industrial Estate
Strabane
BT82 9FR

T: 028 7138 3386
E: [email protected]

  • Jobs
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Developing Healthy Communities (DHC) Ltd. Registered in Northern Ireland. Company No. 640806.
Registered with the Charities Commission for Northern Ireland NIC105780

Manage Cookie Preferences