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
    • Who we are
    • Our impact
    • Meet the team
      • Staff
      • Board members
    • News
    • Governance
  • Find support
    • COVID-19 Hub
    • Voluntary organisations
      • Grants
      • Neighbourhood Health Improvement Programme
      • Sport Coaches
    • Workplace health
    • Family support
  • Training
    • Clear training
    • Workplace health training
    • Workplace Health Champions Training
  • Health leadership
    • Self-harm and mental health
    • Families' Voices Forum
    • WHO European Healthy Cities
    • Healthy Cities News
    • Research and resources
    • Clear Forum
    • Public Health Agency Standards
    • Blogs
  • Projects
    • WHO Healthy Cities
    • Clear project
    • [email protected]
      • [email protected] NI
      • Work Well Live Well
    • Families Voices Forum
      • Forum meetings
      • Community workshops and conferences
      • Consultations
      • Resources
      • Families' Voices blog
  • Get involved
    • Partner with us
    • Job vacancies
  • 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.

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 Website

Alternatively, Copy & Paste the following link into your browser:- https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/quality-standards-services-promoting-mental-and-emotional-wellbeing-and-suicide-prevent

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:

Get in touch by:

  • Email
  • Call us

Published: 26th November, 2019

Updated: 1st February, 2021

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Diversity & Inclusion training

    Diversity & Inclusion training

    Free online training aimed at businesses will take place in May, June and July 2021

  • Money Matters: Building financial wellbeing

    Money Matters: Building financial wellbeing

    Financial worries can cause stress and impact on wellbeing. This free training can help employers can take positive steps to support staff with practical tools and budgeting

  • Our mental health strategy response

    Our mental health strategy response

    An integrated role for community groups and clear, measurable outcomes – Developing Healthy Communities’ response to the Department of Health draft Mental Health Strategy.

  • Supporting Health & Well-being in BAME Communities

    Supporting Health & Well-being in BAME Communities

    Full programme of the event taking place on 15 April 2021 from 1.00pm to 2.30pm

Most read

  • Diversity & Inclusion training

    Diversity & Inclusion training

    Free online training aimed at businesses will take place in May, June and July 2021

  • New £3m COVID-19 recovery fund for VCSE sector

    New £3m COVID-19 recovery fund for VCSE sector

    Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has launched the £3.3 million Voluntary, Community and Social Economy Sector (VCSE) Covid Recovery Fund to continue her Department’s support of this vital sector.

  • Keep Learning for better mental health and wellbeing

    Keep Learning for better mental health and wellbeing

    Find out how your company’s team can access free support to keep learning about ways to enjoy better health and wellbeing. By Sabrina Moore, Manager, [email protected]

  • Healthy start to 2021

    Healthy start to 2021

    If healthier eating was one of your New Year resolutions, then you will be interested in this series of free online workshops on food and nutrition.

  • Guidance on reopening facilities and resuming activities

    Guidance on reopening facilities and resuming activities

    This page features guidance and resources for community and voluntary groups who are re-opening facilities or resuming activities after COVID-19 lockdown.

  • FREE Equipment and Training for Sports Clubs

    FREE Equipment and Training for Sports Clubs

    Learn how to apply to the Clear Project and Public Health Agency for free equipment and wellbeing training for your sports club.

  • Developing Healthy Communities to feature at Joint Public Health Annual Conference

    Developing Healthy Communities to feature at Joint Public Health Annual Conference

    Erin McFeely, chief executive of Developing Healthy Communities, is among the speakers to feature at the Joint Public Health Annual Conference on 17th November.

  • Reaching out with mental health training

    Reaching out with mental health training

    We know that it is increasingly important to look after our own mental health and that of others. The Clear Project has been working with the PHA to highlight free, easy to access training and to find innovative ways to work with harder to reach groups.

  • Independent review of mental health crisis services in Northern Ireland

    Independent review of mental health crisis services in Northern Ireland

    Seeking views to inform the development of mental health crisis services

  • Free online mental health training

    Free online mental health training

    We have compiled a directory of Online Mental Health / Suicide Prevention, self-help and training with links to online training and advice on a range of related topics.

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 71 383386  
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