Preparing the Senior Team

Senior staff in your organisation are likely to be involved in the TQS verification visit. You will need to ensure they understand their role in the process leading towards TQS certification.

Here are five actions to take sooner rather than later.

Explain the differences . . .

TQS assessment is different. Let senior people know this. Explain that other assessments senior people may have taken part in are rather different.

Use briefings, newsletters and one-to-one meetings to help you to get your message across.

Produce clear messages and repeat them often

It’s not enough to produce your wonderful guide to the TQS. Make the messages more personal.

“Everything you need to know about . . .” is a possible heading for your guide.
“Three things you need to remember about ….” could also help you.

However, reiterating your messages often is even more important.

Don’t let people forget their role in the TQS assessment and verification process.

Go through the application with senior managers

Make sure senior managers understand that it is your application that is assessed. Then make sure they are aware of what has been said in the application about aspects of your work for which they are responsible.

Think about who you would speak to in order to verify practice with the different parts of the TQS. Then discuss the specifics of the application with those people.

Use the magic words often

In the TQS world the words consistency and standardisation have magical qualities. So much of the TQS is about proving you have systems and processes in place and operational. Talk to the relevant senior managers about some of the issues about standards and systems they need to be aware of.

Ask managers the: “How do you know …” questions.

How do you know that every employer who receives a visit from the college has an organisational needs analysis?
How do you know that employers really do value programme x or y?
How do you know that employers are gaining more from our programmes now than they did three years ago?

Spend time explaining that the TQS is about more than what you achieve. It’s about the systems and processes you have in place to help you to deliver what you promise to employers consistently.

Preparing your senior team for the TQS assessment and verification process will be a lot simpler, if you follow this advice.

See also:

What ... no team ...
TQS assessment is different
Build a good TQS portfolio . . .