Please see here out AQS assessment visits policy statement on COVID-19
- *Assessments conducted remotely for visits due March and April
- Assessments due May to June may be remote, pending guidance on social isolation
- Assessments until March 2022 will accommodate circumstances where serviceschange delivery mode
- Assessments will revert to on-site visits once the risk from COVID-19 has passed.IntroductionAdvice Services Alliance is responsible for the Advice Quality Standard, the AQS which is the principal quality assurance mechanism for the social welfare advice sector. Whilst the majority of the ASA’s business can be conducted remotely and without face to face contact, the visits to advice organisations by the Advice Quality Standard assessment teams as part of their assessment are the exception. The risk to assessors, to staff and to clients still remains low but we understand that these are exceptional circumstances and that some adaptation to the usual processes may be required. This document sets out what these are and how they may apply.
Key stakeholders
- Social welfare advice organisations who hold or are applying for the AQS, including independent advice services, all local Citizens Advice and many local Age UK
- The AQS assessment teams from Recognising Excellence, Age UK and Citizens Advice
- Money and Pension Services (AQS accredited to their framework)
- Welsh Government (AQS accredited to the Information & Advice Quality Framework without Peer Review)Who Policy Statement Applies to
- All organisations who are going through or will be going through the AQS assessment process between March and April
- All organisations who are booking assessment visits for May- June 2020
- All AQS holders at date of renewal until March 2022This policy is an overview of the current situation and advice organisation should contact their assessment body for more information regarding particular requirements or guidance from their assessor.
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Review
This policy statement will be reviewed and updated if necessary on a weekly basis.