New CECOPS grading system to drive up quality of assistive technology services

CECOPS is building on its widely used and respected accreditation model by introducing a new grading system for assistive technology services throughout the UK.

The new system aims to drive up quality, safety, performance and user experience, and has a continuous improvement focus.

Providers who are delivering excellent services will benefit from the new gradings system by being able to distinguish themselves and win new business. It will also be helpful for procurement and commissioning leads when evaluating and awarding contracts, and it will enable the public to see how well providers are performing.

From 2020, any provider gaining CECOPS accreditation status will be awarded one of the following grades:

The grading system applies across all assistive technology services covered by CECOPS e.g. digital health, telecare, community equipment and wheelchair services.

To date, the CECOPS accreditation model has sought to ensure organisations were compliant with the CECOPS standards, thereby meeting quality outcomes; it did not distinguish between a compliant and an excellent service.

The CECOPS grading system is centred on alignment with 10 themes, each of which are indicators of quality and performance at the heart of an organisation.

Grades will be awarded based on how well a service performs against each of the following themes:

Theme 1: Organisational Learning & Continuous Improvement

Theme 2: Compliance with CECOPS Standards

Theme 3: Customer Experience

Theme 4: Leadership

Theme 5: Governance & Risk Management

Theme 6: Quality, Safety and Performance

Theme 7: Staff Competence

Theme 8: Efficiency & Effectiveness

Theme 9: Innovation

Theme 10: Integration (where applicable)

Alignment with the themes will be determined as part of the CECOPS accreditation assessment process.

The grade will be public and will appear on an organisation’s CECOPS profile page.

The grading system will be introduced as a staged process from January 2020, with providers currently working with CECOPS being awarded a grading when their next assessment for accreditation is due.

We believe this exciting new development will help shape the future of assistive technology services by driving up service standards and enabling providers to demonstrate the quality of their service.

Assistive technology services are vital for the health, wellbeing and independence of many people, and it is important these services are provided as best as they possibly can be to ensure good quality outcomes. Our standards set the baseline for providers, and the grading system will help drive up quality and aspiration to aim to be the best. Prof Mike Bewick MB, BS, FRCP, FRCGP, MIPH, Chairman, CECOPS

 We have been asked on a number of occasions by commissioners and providers if we were going to introduce a grading system. Now that we are working with over 200 organisations, we feel the time is right. Offering this unique approach in the assistive technology space demonstrates our commitment to improving the quality and performance of these services. Brian Donnelly MSc, CEO, CECOPS

If you commission or provide assistive technology services, and are interested in how the CECOPS grading system might support you, please get in touch: info@cecops.org.uk or call 01494 863398