For Lighthouse Futures Trust, checking the quality of their work is about doing the best they can for the young people they support. When they had the chance to take part in the Supported Internships Quality Assurance Framework (SIQAF), they saw it as a helpful way to review and improve what they do. The feedback they got was clear, useful, and helped them strengthen their programme. In this Q&A, the team talks about how the process confirmed they’re on the right track and gave them ideas to keep getting better.
What made you undertake a SIQAF?
We undertook the SIQAF as a crucial part of our quality assurance process, ensuring our program aligns with and effectively implements the Supported Internship Framework.
What impact did the SIQAF have on your service?
The SIQAF has had a profoundly positive impact on our service. The assessor’s valuable feedback provided us with actionable insights that we have since implemented, further strengthening our provision. We are also incredibly proud of our final score, which validated the quality and effectiveness of our work.
What aspect of the SIQAF did you find most valuable?
The most valuable aspect was working with assessors who deeply understood the supported internship model. This expertise ensured that the assessment was fair, accurate, and truly reflective of our adherence to the framework. We also greatly appreciated the practical suggestions they provided to further enhance our program.
Would you recommend the SIQAF to other services?
We would absolutely recommend the SIQAF to other services. It serves as an excellent benchmark for measuring performance and identifying areas for improvement, ultimately helping you provide the best possible service to young people.
What is your key takeaway?
My key takeaway is the importance of maintaining and continuously improving our quality standards.
Anything else you would like to tell us?
The assessors’ expertise and understanding of the supported internship program were crucial to the process and made the entire experience feel both useful and productive.
Thinking of doing a SIQAF?
Explore how it can benefit your service and take the first step toward quality improvement.
