14th September, 2009
Only eight organisations in the country have achieved the Award and Advocacy Matters (Wales) AMW stands out as the only advocacy organisation in Wales to complete the rigorous assessment process.
"Advocacy Matters (Wales) is a well established advocacy service with a reputation that reaches beyond Wales", is how Martin Coyle, Head of Quality and Development, Action for Advocacy sums up AMW professional standing in his QPM Report Executive Summary.
In addition to achieving the much sought after QPM award the assessors singled out AMW special areas of good practice, in particular:
Complaints procedure - "AMW has a robust and effective complaints procedure. It is refreshing to see a scheme that is keen to learn from mistakes rather than apportion blame, as well as giving a clear example of this".
Development & Funding - "AMW has achieved what many advocacy organisations only dream about: diverse funding. This was seen as necessary to lessen the risk of undue influence affecting the independence of the organisation. The achievement of diverse funding has not come about by chasing any funding available. Growth is carefully planned. AMW commitment to independence at all costs, while managing to achieve sustained growth and multiple funders, is a fine example of good practice".
File Keeping and Form design - "AMW are to be commended for the importance they give not only to advocacy outcomes but ‘soft' outcomes". "AMW have worked hard to make all forms the initial forms as accessible as possible to service users with the inclusion of pictograms and photographs". "Particular praise should also be given for the development of the outcomes recording tool"
Staff Support and Training - "Throughout AMW, there is a strong emphasis on training for staff and committee members and personal development for all staff". "Career development is considered an important part of the scheme. The chair confirmed the organisation is trying to promote advocacy as a profession rather than a stop gap job.
