When the Chairman of Community Care Options  attended the surgery of the Minister for Health Ivan Lewis M.P. to raise issues relating to the provision of care for adults with learning disabilities, he was surprised and delighted when the Minister requested a visit to the Bolton Charity.

 

A question and answer session with staff and service users was subsequently held at the Charity’s offices in Egerton as part of a fact finding process that will inform future government policy development.

 

The minister also presented a plaque and certificate in recognition of Community Care Options recent achievement in gaining the British Standard Investors in Excellence Award.

 

Investors in Excellence is a nationally recognised programme designed to drive continuous improvement in all key areas of an organisation, and is based on, and utilizes the same nine criteria as the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model.

 

It is a rigorous programme that assesses an organisation’s current ability and the Award cannot be achieved without demonstrating high levels of performance and meeting a defined standard against each criterion of the Excellence Model. It encompasses the provisions of initiatives such as Investors in People, ISO 9000 and Charter Mark and is highlighted nationally by the British Quality Foundation and locally by North of England Excellence as providing the most powerful evidence and public acknowledgement of an organisation’s capabilities and performance available, as well as a source of pride and recognition for employees and management.

Pictured at the presentation L – R    Pam Senior Chair of Bolton PCT, Cllr Cliff Morris Leader of the Council, Ivan Lewis M.P, John Seddon Chairman of Community Care Options Trustees, Ray Bates Chief Executive, Victor Williams Manager of Quality and Projects, Pete Macartney Director of Programmes North of England Excellence, Cllr Rosa Kay Chair of Adult Services and John Rutherford Director of Adult Services.