PQASSO or Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations is a quality assurance system and quality mark for charitable organizations. Epilepsy Ireland first received PQASSO certification in January 2015 and this was re-confirmed for a further 3 years in 2018.
The quality system comprises 12 specific standards and almost 100 individual indicators which must be met in order to receive certification:
- Governance
- Planning
- Leadership and management
- User-centred service
- Managing people
- Learning and development
- Managing money
- Managing resources
- External communications
- Working with others
- Assessing outcomes and impact
Charities that have implemented PQASSO can demonstrate:
- more effective and efficient organisational systems and procedures
- better quality of service for users
- better communication and increased motivation among staff, board members and volunteers
- greater credibility and legitimacy with funders
- new perspectives and ways of working
- organisational learning
- continuous improvement.