The European Mark of Quality

1. The European Mark of Quality Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

2. THE EUROPEAN PLATFORM FOR REHABILITATION The European Platform for Rehabilitation is a network of 19 leading European providers of rehabilitation services to people with disabilities and others who are disadvantaged. The substantial work carried out by the European Platform for Rehabilitation over the last 10 years set up the European Quality in Rehabilitation Mark to identify and to encourage excellence and best practice in the rehabilitation sector. Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

3. THE EUROPEAN QUALITY REHABILITATION MARK The European Platform for Rehabilitation launched the European Quality in Rehabilitation Mark (EQRM) at 2 December 2002 with the support of the Council of Europe, The International Labour Organisation, the European Disability Forum, the European Association of Service Providers to People with Disabilities, the European Employers and Trade Union Organisations and European Social Insurance Institutes. Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

4. The EQRM The EQRM is not simply a quality mark for meeting European standards for rehabilitation services. It is, more fundamentally, a way in which organisations can show their commitment to Continuous Improvement and Service Excellence in the field of Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation service providers can engage themselves in challenging journey: an externally accredited self-evaluation and organisational learning. Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

5. The Principles of Excellence Adapting the approach of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), the EPR has proposed nine Principles of Excellence for rehabilitation providers that are widely accepted and approved by the most important stakeholders at European level. Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

6. Person focus Service focus The Principles of Excellence Rights Ethics Input Output Review Partnership Leadership Results Continuous improvement Participation Person centred Comprehensiveness Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

7. The different Principles of Excellence The 9 principles of Excellence are designed to provide a framework within which organisations can evaluate their performance and plan developments. Each Principle of Excellence has been elaborated in terms of six criteria and a self-assessment procedure has been developed. Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

8. The EQRM System The EQRM system asks an organisation to carry out and to report a perception-based self-assessment. In this self-assessment organisation’s current performance on the Principle of Excellence are reported. Independent reviewers have been trained to assess this self-evaluation and a scoring system has been validated. An independent Awarding Committee, upon which multiple stakeholder perspectives are represented, moderates the accreditation procedure and awards the European Mark. Any organisation that can demonstrate achievements and continuous improvement on all nine principles is awarded the Mark (EQRM). Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

9. Multi Perspective Approach The EQRM system is located in a unique section of the market in comparison to other quality systems. One of the unique characteristics of the EQRM is the multi perspective approach of the system. The system is based on the perspectives from the all key stakeholders in the Rehabilitation Sector at European Level, that have been involved and have influence in setting the EQRM framework, the Principles of Excellence and the criteria, the system and its procedures for assessment and the criteria for awarding. Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

10. Multi Perspective Approach: key stakeholders Service-users Service-providers Social partners Funders Policy makers Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

11. Levels of recognition Based on these nine Principles of Excellence two labels of recognition have been established:- Label ‘Committed to EQRM’ - Label “European Quality in Rehabilitation Mark” Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

12. Committed to EQRM: the first step The label ‘Committee to EQRM’ is based on EQRM Initiation Programme. This initiation programme deals with the characteristics of the European Quality in Rehabilitation Mark. Self-reflection on performance, which is one of the key processes of the EQRM system, is the first step in the process of recognition by the European Quality in Rehabilitation Mark. After the Initiation Programme the organisation is considered as ‘Committed to EQRM’, which is expressed in this EQRM label. Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

13. Committed to EQRM: Key processes Self-reflection Diagnosis EQRM profile Implementation plan Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

14. Committed to EQRM Tallaght Dundlaoghaire Dundalk Sligo Medialoabor Josefheim Bigge UEROS Until to day 15 organisations have been recognised as ‘Committed to EQRM’ Limerick Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

15. European Quality in Rehabilitation Mark The European Quality in Rehabilitation Mark is the most prestigious quality mark for rehabilitation services and organisations, which are committed to continuous improvement and service excellence in the field of Rehabilitation. This mark is based upon the Principles of Excellence and it operates on well-defined criteria and uses tested self-evaluation and external assessment procedures. The key processes for the EQRM are the application, the self-evaluation, the external assessment and the awarding. Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

16. EQRM: Key processes Application Self-Evaluation Assessment Awarding Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

17. Dundalk Sligo Dundlaoghaire UEROS EQRM: Excellence in Rehabilitation In 2003 three organisations and in 2004 nine organisation are recognised as ‘Excellence and best practice in Rehabilitation’. Limerick Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005

18. Characteristics • Rehabilitation sector (medical-social-vocational) • Multi perspective (EU-level) • Non-prescriptive • Principles of Excellence • Comprehensive approach • Based on self-evaluation and learning • Includes training and consultancy services • External assessment and European recognition • Benchmark • Valid for 3 years Stefano Schena, President EPR 24th October 2005