Quality checking with Mike

What is a quality checker?

A quality checker is someone who is supported by PSS or has accessed our services and now volunteers their time to help shape how we do things. They visit different services, and have open and honest conversations with the people accessing those services.

It's part of our ongoing commitment to make sure we’re growing, changing and making PSS the best it can be when it comes to the services we provide. It’s about listening to the people who use our services to really understand what’s working and what isn’t, and sharing that feedback to make things better.

Here’s what Mike told us about what it's like to be a quality checker at PSS:

Q: As someone supported by PSS why is quality checking important? 

Mike: Quality checking is important because we need to find out what is going right and what is going wrong. We need ideas from everywhere to help make PSS the best it can be. We need to keep improving the support we provide and get that feedback from people who use the support. As a quality checker and a supported person, I get to help PSS get the feedback that will help people like me who need support. The feedback is really important so we can show funders and help get more resources for PSS to help more people.  

Q: Connecting with other services - why does that feel good? 

Mike: I enjoyed calling North Yorkshire Shared Lives carers to promote the Annual Survey this year. I was a bit nervous at first but jumped into it. It felt good and it was good to get their perception on what they are doing, how they are coping and what they may need support with from PSS as Shared Lives carers. Hopefully I can help in other areas of PSS. I have such a varied background and hope that what I have in my locker can help other people in any way it can.  

Q: What do you get out of being a quality checker? 

Mike: I get a lot out of volunteering as it is a chance to payback what I got from the service initially. I may not still be here if it wasn’t for PSS. For five years I was running around looking for help and eventually found PSS and it works. Gives me a bigger purpose in life with lots to get involved in. Almost too busy now a days.  

Big thanks 

Big thanks to Mike, for not only being one of our awesome quality checkers, but for taking the time to share his experience. 

We’re looking for more quality checkers to join our team, so if you’re someone who is supported by PSS and would like to help us be the best we can be, please drop us a message by emailing QualityTeam@pss.org.uk.