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The Association of Therapeutic Communities in conjunction with
the Research Unit of the Royal College of Psychiatrists set up
the Community of Communities Quality Network in 2002. The first
stage of the project was to agree a set of standards for all Therapeutic
Communities to mark themselves against. In essence, the standards
attempted to set out quality standards to which a successful Therapeutic
Community should aspire.
Both the Ley Community and the Ley Prison Programme
signed up as members of the Quality Network. The annual cycle requires
each Therapeutic Community in the Quality Network (currently over
40 Communities) to undertake a self-audit against the standards,
and then receive a visit from staff and residents from another
Community in the Network who undertake a peer-audit. A full report
is subsequently drafted by the Research Unit that identifies areas
of good practice, and suggestions for future improvements.
The Quality Network is now entering its third cycle. Each year
the standards are revised and refined. Participation in the project
has certainly provided a broader perspective on the work at the
Ley Community, and been a useful vehicle for reviewing the way
in which the programme operates.
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