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Supported Employment Service achieves accreditation

Optalis’ Supported Employment Service (SES) is pleased to announce that it has achieved Support with Confidence accreditation this month.

Support with Confidence (SWC) is a joint initiative between West Berkshire and Wokingham’s local authorities Trading Standards and Adult Social Care Services which makes checks on:

- each applicant’s background

- their qualifications and experience

- their level of customer service, and;

- their compliance with legal standards.

This allows SWC to provide a pre-approved list of businesses and individuals which serves to reassure members of the public who wish to buy a care and support service (for example, a Personal Assistant); either for themselves or a loved one, that the service they buy will be safely delivered.

During the assessment process, SES’ management team successfully demonstrated the level of quality and processes already in place within the service. In addition, it was proven that service staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults, had the correct Criminal Records Bureau checks in place, practiced enhanced customer care, and equality and diversity. Lastly, it was shown that SES had a robust Quality Assurance Policy, which enabled clients to give feedback.

Katrina Reeves, Service Manager for SES, said: “We are delighted that we’ve been awarded this accreditation. We worked hard to demonstrate the excellence that the service provides, and were helped by receiving 10 independent references from partners such as Thames Valley Police, the Community Mental Health Team, and private companies; as well as several individual customers whom we have helped over the years.”

Julie Quarrell, Support with Confidence Scheme Manager, said: “I am very pleased to have accredited Optalis’ Supported Employment Service onto the Support with Confidence Scheme.”

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