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PQASSO (Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations) was developed by Charities Evaluation Services (CES) in 1997 and revised in 2000 and 2007. This is a self-assessment tool for small and medium VCS organisations, which helps you to:
- focus on what the organisation is doing
- bring people together to identify areas for improvement
- facilitate discussion to ensure all stakeholders are aware of policies, procedures and plans
- motivate people to make visible progress
- use a clear language for negotiating with funders
The pack is divided into twelve quality areas.
- planning for quality
- governance
- management
- user-centred service
- staff and volunteers
- training and development
- managing money
- managing resources
- managing activities
- networking and partnership
- monitoring and evaluation
- results
Each area has three "levels of achievement", with details of what the organisation should be doing to achieve each of these levels.
Each area has "suggested evidence" to help you identify how to demonstrate your achievements. This leads you on to a "self-assessment" page, which helps you decide what action needs to be taken, by specific people and within specific timeframes to meet the "levels of achievement".
PQASSO is the most commonly used quality standard in the voluntary and community sector: 46% of charities surveyed in Futureskills 2003 had achieved PQASSO levels, or were working towards them. It is seen as simple and affordable.
SAVO staff are available to help VCS organisations in Suffolk work towards a PQASSO award. Christine Pinsent, SAVO’s Training Field Officer, is now a qualified PQASSO mentor – one of only two in the East of England. Please contact her for more information on 01502 539711.
More information and how to purchase PQASSO can be found here: PQASSO |
Tools for the VCS 
