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Specialist Help
- SQM Outsource tender process update - August 2010
- SQM audit pricing
- SQM Outsourcing - Response to informal consultation
- SQM update
- About the SQM
- Additional requirements and definitions for telephone services
- Current Process for applying for the SQM (and SQM including telephone services)
SQM Outsource tender process update - August 2010
Further to our update in May 2010, the SQM outsource tender process has been completed and the SQM Delivery Partnership have been awarded the contract to deliver SQM auditing services.
The SQM Delivery Partnership will begin setting up the service in November 2010 and launch the auditing service in February 2011. They will be responsible for all SQM audits for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a future contract.
In the meantime the LSC will continue to audit the SQM for contracts awarded in 2010, but looking ahead all providers must possess an up to date quality management standard that they have paid for.
Under these new arrangements providers must have obtained or retained the SQM standard prior to the next round of contracts. The SQM standard is now valid for a 3 year period.
SQM audit pricing
The cost of an SQM audit will be per firm and determined by the size of the organisation.
The SQM Delivery Partnership will offerproviders a reduced rate where audits are booked and undertaken prior to September 2011.
Detail of the audit costs are contained in Annex A. Please note that all costs outlined in this document are based on VAT rate of 17.5%.
Further information
This is provided for information only and there is no need to take any action. The LSC and the SQM Delivery Partnership will keep providers updated throughout 2010.
SQM Outsourcing - Response to informal consultation
In July 2009 we issued a discussion paper regarding the future of quality assurance in legal aid and began an informal consultation process on its proposals for change. We have now produced a response summarising the feedback received and how we intend to move forward. The proposals include:
- Keeping peer review, and continuing to meet the cost, but reducing the number of reviews carried out
- Outsourcing the SQM whilst minimising the cost to providers
- Reviewing the decision to end contributions towards the cost of accreditation, and in discussion with representative bodies producing new proposals by early 2010
- Working closely with regulators and representative bodies to avoid duplication of assurance
The full response can be found in the Documents section of this page.
Specialist Quality Mark update
The second edition of the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) Standard and Guidance have now been published. The changes will take effect for all legal aid contracts from 2010.
A key change is the transfer of the supervisor legal competence standards to the contract, reflecting the importance of supervision to the delivery of a quality service to the client.
The SQM has been brought up to date by:
- increasing clarity: moving redundant areas and updating terminology
- promoting equalities: addition of a new E&D standard
- streamlining: the standard will be awarded to a firm, not an office. The SQM will no longer be legal aid or category specific.
The changes that have been made to the standard will:
- align the SQM with the LSC contract from 2010
- allow the LSC to accept Lexcel as an alternative to the SQM for 2010 onwards
- be a first step towards outsourcing the SQM from late 2010.
You can view and download the SQM Standard and Guidance (September 2009), a Summary of the Changes and a FAQ document in the Document section on the right of this page. For further information you can contact the Quality Mark team by sending an email to: qualitymark@legalservices.gov.uk
About the Specialist Quality Mark
The Specialist Quality Mark is a quality assurance standard for legal services that:
- supply complex legal help in specific areas of law
- provide full range of legal services, including representation in court (where necessary and permitted) by formally trained professionals
- wish to receive Legal Services Commission funding
- are well run and provide good client care
- example: solicitors, agencies supplying specialist advice in specialist areas of law
Compliance with the Specialist Quality Mark is a requirement for organisations that have, or are seeking to have, a Legal Services Commission Unified Contract.
Additional requirements and definitions for telephone services
This standard applies to organisations that supply legal information, advice or services by telephone at specialist level including:
- national, regional and local telephone services
- organisations that provide additional telephone assistance as well as face to face service
The requirements of the telephone level should be read in conjunction with the SQM requirements.
Current Process for applying for the Specialist Quality Mark (and SQM including telephone services)
Our audit resource is being focused on contracted suppliers and those whose funding depends on the award of a contract.
Currently we only accept Specialist Quality Mark applications from new entrants as part of any registration process for bid rounds or new contract awards processes.
If you require any of the Specialist Quality Mark forms, including application forms, please click on the Specialist Quality Mark forms link located in the links section on the right hand side of this page.
Last updated: 20 November 2003