The Driving Up Quality Code

This Driving up Quality Code has been developed by the provider sector as a response to Winterbourne View. Providers and commissioners of services for people with learning disabilities are being invited to sign up to the Code to drive up quality and be open and transparent about what they are doing to meet it.

The Code has a particular focus on people with challenging behaviour who have longstanding and complex support needs but can be applied to all people with learning disabilities, including those who have autism.

The aim of the Code is to avoid what happened at Winterbourne View ever happening again. To achieve this, much change is needed in the care sector if good organisations are to flourish and poor providers be driven out.

Specifically the Code wants to achieve the following:

• Drive up quality in services for people with learning disabilities that goes beyond minimum standards
• Create and build a passion in the learning disability sector to provide high quality, values-led services
• Provide a clear message to the sector and the wider population about what is and what is not acceptable practice
• Promote a culture of openness and honesty in organisations
• Promote the celebration and sharing of the good work that is already out there.

The Code has been developed by the Driving Up Quality Alliance, whose members include Housing & Support Alliance, English Community Care Association, Voluntary Organisations Disability Group, Sitra, Association for Real Change, National Care Association, National Care Forum, Adults with Learning Disability Services Forum, Shared Lives Plus and the Independent Healthcare Advisory

By signing up to the Driving Up Quality Code providers and suppliers will make a commitment to the principles of the Code and to be transparent about how we are adopting these principles within the work of our organisation.

For further information and to sign up to the code visit www.drivingupquality.org.uk.