Dear Colleague
Quest- Sport For Development- March 2017
Following detailed work with partners and stakeholders we are now in a position to inform you that we have now launched the new and improved Quest Sport for Development Model designed specifically for agencies working to improve personal, social and community outcomes.
Launched in 1996 Quest remains the sport and leisure industry’s only recognised Quality Assurance Tool for sports development and physical activity which is designed to measure how effective organisations are at providing high quality services. Quest is supported by Sport England and all the Home Country Sports Councils, Chartered Institute for the Mangement of Sport and Physical Activity, Chief Lesiure Officers Association, SPORTA, Sports and Recreation Alliance and ukactive who all sit on the Quest Board and oversee its design and development. Quest is now widely recognised as the leading continuous improvement and quality assurance model designed by the sector for the sector. Discussions are now underway to see how Quest can reach out to every part of the industry with a particular focus on organisations working to promote sport for development.
In its development and operation Quest references and applies the standards of:
- Customer Service Excellence(CSE)
- Investors in People(IIP)
- European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM)
- Culture and Sport Improvement Toolkit(CSIT)
- Culture and Sport Impact Outcomes Framework
The new Sport England Strategy (Towards an Active Nation) is very clear on what it wants to see delivered over the next five years. Namely:
A more productive, sustainable and responsible sport sector
A more demand-led sport sector that welcomes everyone
Improved governance
Improved financial efficiency
Increased and more diverse revenue generation
Increased diversity in leadership
A diverse and productive workforce
This follows the publication of the Government’s Sports Strategy (A Sporting Future) which amongst other things highlighted:
The need to work with organisations to improve their sustainability and increase efficiency.
The need to make the sector more modern, independent and sustainable in the long term by making sure there is robust organisational health and performance.
Ensure that organisations in receipt of public funding carry out a regular staff survey, act on the results and make data publicly available.
Organisations receiving public money should achieve recognised standards of good governance with financial probity, accountability and board composition emerging as key priorities.
We now work with an expanding and varied number of Clients including Leisure Trusts, Professional Clubs, Local Authorities, Charities and Voluntary Organisations. As part of the Quest process we help share best practice and benchmarking information between Clients to help identify achievements and areas for learning, growth and improvement at this exciting time for the sector. We want to assess resilience, agility, focus and improvement to help deliver sustained behaviour change and improved life chances.
We have over 700 facilities and 60 development teams involved in Quest in one shape or another making it the most important improvement and accreditation scheme in the sport and leisure sector.
The Sport for Development Model
The new Module Index is outlined below and material can now be accessed via the website: via the 2016 Active Communities Tab. The Assessment works over 2 days. The Index will provide you with details of:
1.Core Modules written with Sport England and Substance containing the latest best practice guidance.
2.Range of Choice Modules written containing the latest best practice guidance.
3.New Doorstep Club Module developed with Street Games providing linked accreditation.
4.New Modules of “Engaging with… “(target audiences and under-represented groups) written with EFDS, Sporting Equals and Sport England input.
5.Ratings Criteria set out in each Module to help differentiate performance levels more precisely.
6.The self- assessment process in advance of the Assessment developed by Social Research and Technology company Substance.
7.The Directional Review process after 12 months to support improvement planning.
Our Assessors are experienced sport and leisure sector professionals who act as “critical friends” providing a constructive process providing:
An independent review of the service
A check and challenge process for teams/organisations
An opportunity to benchmark and compare with best practice in the sector
An opportunity to have the quality of your work nationally accredited for a 2 year period.
An opportunity to develop teambuilding and team working
A process by which leaders can assess what “Good/Great” looks like and how the organisation measures up.
A robust quality assurance model which is recognised by funding agencies
“The expertise and experience of the Assessor provided us with great value. Recommendations around practical improvements have provided us with real momentum and confidence to move forward”
Steve Bradshaw- Chief Executive, Millwall Football Club Community Trust
Quest provides a simple, time efficient, five step approach for Clients
Step 1
A customised self-assessment process to begin the improvement journey and help the team/service recognise strengths and opportunities for growth. This help to create an improvement plan and is used in the formal Assessment
Step 2
An external 2-day assessment led by an experienced assessor from the sector covering 5 core modules and 3 choice modules.
These are supported by Guidance Notes, written by the sector for the sector around best practice across the fields of sports development, physical activity and sport for development. These are provided in advance to help Clients prepare and produce evidence for the Assessment.
Step 3
A report with detailed and overall ratings is provided to the Client together with a completed Service Improvement Plan made up of the Assessor’s recommendations for growth, improvement and development. This is linked to a Benchmarking table open only to Quest Clients working in the sector with opportunities to attend National Benchmarking Events throughout the year.
Step 4
A Directional Review which can take place between 12 and 15 months after the initial Assessment to suit the Client. This will incorporate a formal partner survey; a staff workshop on engagement and productivity together with mentored support around identified improvement themes. This process can involve a Peer from the network- a hugely successful initiative pioneered with the support of CSPs - which provides real opportunity for learning and sharing of best practice.
Step 5
For those achieving Excellent status we are now providing a validation process which can lead to an OUTSTANDING accreditation.
Core Modules- Clients will be asked to go through the following 5 Modules with the Assessor:
1.Continuous Improvement
2.Community Outcomes
3.Team and Skills Development- involving a staff focus group
4.Partnerships and Collaboration- involving a partner focus group
5.Delivering S4D Projects
Choice Modules- Clients will be asked to select 3 Modules to work on with the Assessor from the list below:
1.Doorstep Sport- with linked accreditation agreed with Street Games.
2.Engagement with Disabled People written with EFDS.
3.Engagement with Women and Girls.
4.Engagement with BMEs.
5.Engagement with Older People.
6.Governance- using the new Code for Sports Governance.
7.Talent Development.
8.Engagement with Children (0-11).
9.Engagement with Young People (12 plus).
10.Engagement with the Community.
11.Mental Health and Well-Being.
12.Contribution to Health and Well-Being.
13.Getting the Inactive Active.
14.Safeguarding written with the Child Protection in Sport Unit.
For more information, do not hesitate to contact Paul Brivio, Active Communities Manager, on 07738278707.
Quest & NBS is managed in partnership by Right Directions Ltd
and Leisure-net Solutions Ltd on behalf of Sport England