The Mind Network

The Mind network operates as a 'federation', where 180 Local Mind Associations (LMAs) are affiliated to Mind, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. Each LMA operates and is financed independently, providing local services that meet the needs in their area. Collectively the LMAs provide 1,600 services in England and Wales, helping over 220,000 people each year.

Quality Management in Mind

Quality Management in Mind ensures that when someone uses a Mind service anywhere in the country, the service is provided by an organisation which has strong, consistent values, has high standards of service delivery and is run in a robust way in line with the needs of their local community.

Each Local Mind Association participates in Quality Management in Mind and affiliation to Mind is dependent on them meeting the 12 quality standards. The assurance process has a four part framework:

1) A set of 12 standards to ensure quality services including commitment to quality, measuring performance, governance, planning and development, financial management, user involvement, people management, information, equality and diversity, networking and partnerships, standards for services and branding;
2) Ensuring quality is embedded thorough self-assessment and other development tools;
3) The Quality Review process, including self-assessment by the Local Mind Association plus verification by Mind staff and peer reviewers (which could include mental health service users, other LMA staff / trustees) who meet key stakeholders in the LMA, then a review panel assesses the evidence and makes a final decision on the level achieved;
4) Managing improvement through action plans and development agreements.

The Quality Management in Mind system at Level 2 is endorsed by the Charity Commission.

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