Safe Recruitment - Quality Mark Wales

Supply teachers make an important contribution to the smooth running of schools and the Welsh Assembly Government this and wants to ensure that they are recruited and managed well, to allow them to give their best to schools

The Quality Mark Wales has been launched, as a joint initiative between the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) to help drive up standards for everyone in the sector. The Quality Mark sets standards for agencies and LEAs to reach in areas such as the way they recruit and interview supply teachers, the way they check and manage their performance and they way they stay at the forefront of changes in the teaching sector.

Maintaining standards in education recruitment is vital and the benefits of the Quality Mark to LEAs, agencies, supply teachers and the schools they serve are immense. Schools and teachers deserve high quality agencies and this scheme will help both schools and teachers be more confident about the agencies they use. It will give increased confidence to schools, parents and pupils that staff supplied through agencies/LEAs are recruited properly. For the supply providers it will provide both assurance and official recognition that the highest standards of recruitment practice are being adhered to; and teachers will be confident that they have selected an accredited and reputable service that will add value to their experience as supply teachers.

Objectives

The main objectives of the Quality Mark are:

To recognise private sector supply agencies and LEAs who are able to demonstrate that they meet standards of good practice in managing and providing supply teachers for schools

To enable schools and temporary teachers to feel confident about the quality of the agencies and LEAs with whom they are dealing

To recognise the contributions made by supply teachers, agencies and LEAs in supporting schools

The Process

All agencies and LEAs (operationally trading for at least one year) which supply schools with temporary teachers in Wales are eligible to apply. For agencies trading for less that one year may apply for Working Towards the Quality Mark. They will be required to submit detailed evidence to show they are able to meet the required standards by means of a policy document, internal processes and procedures and documents to support this. To ensure compliance with each standard there is a rigorous inspection process in place, including an audit, supported by detailed exception reporting to applicants. The REC require a high level of detail and understanding of their operation in order to be sufficiently certain that the written evidence that has been provided is compliant with the required standards.

Additional Information

If you would like to apply please download the Application form, The Quality Mark Leaflet and the Guidance notes. Alternative please contact Nigel Williams at the REC who will arrange to send you hard copies

Quality Mark Team,
Recruitment and Employment Confederation
PO Box 263
Bridgend
CF31 9GD

Nigel.williams@rec.uk.com

07919 215735 (Mon and Tues only)