National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) - Homeless Agency

Part 2: The NQSF Process
Overview
The primary function of the NQSF is as a support and development tool, with the aim of assisting youth work
organisations to identify strengths and areas for development in their services and to benchmark progress accordingly.
Having done so, they will be able to take a structured and developmental approach to the assessment of youth work
provision, examining its level, impact and efficacy.
Part 2
In developing the NQSF, every effort has been made to ensure that it is balanced and proportionate in that it attempts
to indicate evidence-based practice, but also to illustrate practice-based evidence. Fundamental to the effective
application of the NQSF is the process of self-assessment. This should be based on exploring, negotiating and
identifying the position and progress of the organisation and its services in relation to the essential elements of the
NQSF, i.e. the 5 core principles, the 10 standards and their associated prescribed indicators (see Figure 1). The purpose
of self-assessment is to determine the current status of the organisation and to assess future progress against this
position. The organisation will liaise with VEC Officers at local level and the NQSF Standards Officer at national level.
These officers will provide both a support function (offering guidance on the implementation of the NQSF) and an
external assessment function (validating the organisation’s self-assessment process).
5