Quality management system
The Disability Sector Quality System is a quality management system which builds on the basic principles of a quality assurance system. Quality assurance is:
- prescriptive in nature
- focussed on ‘outputs’ and ‘efficiency’
- uses a standard benchmark of quality
- promotes maintenance of systems and processes
- is a destination, not a journey.
With a quality management approach, continuous improvement systems are added to a quality assurance system by incorporating a quality cycle of continuous improvement. Quality management is seen as an ongoing journey of continuous improvement.
A quality management system:
- promotes continuous improvement of systems and processes (evidence is provided through documentation, monitoring of processes and feedback by people)
- ensures service users have an integral role – service providers must have mechanisms for service user feedback and input
- focuses on ‘outcomes’ and ‘effectiveness’.
A quality management system provides evidence that a specified standard of quality has been met and is continuously improved.
For more information on quality management systems refer to Section 2 of the Partners in Quality – Resources and Guide.
For more information on continuous improvement refer to Resource Kit 3.
Last updated May 2008
Partners in Quality – Resources and Guide
Resource Kit 3