Facilitating An Organisation Self-Evaluation

Feedback is an essential for the quality of any business/organisation. In Childrens Services, feedback also assists services and staff to constantly ensure compliance with legislation (state or federal governments), regulations, quality standards and the policies and procedures of the organisation. Serious repercussions such as legal action could be taken against breaches. Seeking feedback through various channels can assist to identify the types of potential issues and deal with these before a problem occurs.

Focus Groups

Focus groups can be conducted in two ways through formal information gathering where direct questions are asked or through informal discussions with clients. Surveys and questionnaires are also a good way of gathering an opinion on specific issues.

Designing Questions
Consider the following:

offer a range of options can relate to a specific subject well designed questions to gather the information required avoid asking too much information in one question use open questions for clients to consider their opinion Use closed questions for straight answer.

samplewords.com

All feedback must be treated as constructive rather than negative. All the information within the questionnaire should be treated as confidential. Access the following video clip on 6.4 Creating questionnaires and topic guides http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAufRE1DMKE

Conducting Focus Groups, Questionnaires/ Interviews with Other Stake Holders

What Is A Stakeholder?
Access the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIeqIN90dK0

Who Are The Stakeholders?

staff in the organisation that includes educators, supervisors, co-ordinators and management industry associations local community clients government departments

Educators and Managers will constantly reflect on their performance and services practices through the Early Years Learning Framework and the guide to the National Quality Standard as well as the workplace.

Educators concerns may include:

work conditions complying with government regulations paper work sufficient resources

Managers concerns may include: resources compliance issues are met meeting legislative requirements

Conducting Record Audits

Official records document the formal records for the organisations business activities.

Official records could include: business activities of an individual staff member records decisions

Types of Official Files

Visitors Excursions Procedures & guidelines Policies & their review Grievances Legal issues Meeting minutes Incident/accident reports

What is an Audit?

Formal assessment and evaluation of an organisation either internally or externally to meet legal obligations and ensure quality improvement.

Conducting An Audit
For the Childrens Services Industry, audit information may include:

staff qualifications first-aid qualifications attendance & non-attendance records blue card holders enrolment forms medication forms accident/illness forms indoor & outdoor inspection checks

fire extinguisher checks emergency evacuations practices excursion forms safe travel paper work class roles number of staffing food handling

Completing Self-Evaluation Reports

Involves:

improvement of the services quality & efficiency scaffolds continuous improvement allows for feedback reviews practices identifies quality practices identifies gaps

Activity
Access the Guide to the National Quality Standard by the following link: http://acecqa.gov.au/storage/3%20%20Guide%20to%20the%20National%20Quality%20Standard %20FINAL.pdf Choose a standard you would like to review and reflect on your self- evaluation on your quality practice.