Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations (PQASSO)

Basic information

• Type: Self-Assessment
• Year established: 1997
• Status: Active
• Thematic area: General
• Summary: PQASSO is a self-assessment tool, a quality assurance system designed in 1997 for small, medium or large voluntary and community organisations, or for project teams in very large organisations. It offers three levels of achievement against 12 quality standards areas. All organisations should meet the first level, while organisations that are more developed or have more resources should opt to achieve compliance with levels 2 or 3. The PQASSO standards are also being adapted for use in Hungary, Croatia, Japan, India and Bangladesh, but the Quality Mark is only available in England. PQASSO is supported by the UK Big Lottery Fund.

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Contact details

• Host organisation: Charity Evaluation Services
• Acronym: CES
• Website: www.pqassoqualitymark.org.uk
• Email: enquiries@ces-vol.org.uk
• Phone: 020 7713 5722
• Address: 4 Coldbath Square London EC1R 5HL United Kingdom

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Areas addressed

• Principles or standards: Standards-based
• Communications / advocacy / fundraising:
  • General commitment to transparency
  • Fundraising standards
• Governance and Management:
  • General commitment to good governance
  • Auditing
  • Financial reporting
  • Procurement
• Human resources:
  • Staff relations
  • Volunteer relations
• Beneficiary / client / supporter participation:
  • In evaluation (ex post)
• Monitoring and Evaluation:
  • General commitment to evaluation
  • Commitment to integrate learning in future

Further info: The PQASSO system covers 12 quality standards areas: planning, governance, leadership and management, user-centred service, managing people, learning and development, managing money, managing resources, communications and promotion, working with others, monitoring and evaluation, and results.

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