The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a consultation on the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM), a voluntary accreditation scheme for organisations providing specialist services such as adult social care, mental health, and learning disability services. The SQM is designed to promote high-quality care and support for vulnerable individuals and their families.
The consultation will gather views from stakeholders, including service providers, commissioners, and experts in the field. The DHSC wants to understand the effectiveness of the SQM and identify areas for improvement. The consultation will run until March 15, 2024, and stakeholders can submit their views through an online survey or by email.
Responding to the launch of the consultation, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: 'The Specialist Quality Mark has been a vital tool in ensuring that specialist services are meeting the needs of vulnerable individuals. However, we need to ensure that it is effective and efficient.'