The Forward Trust is a registered charity (number: 1001701) and a registered company (number: 02560474).
Our governance team aid in the identification of risks and improvement at Forward and work closely with the Research and Development team to go about creating change within the organisation.
A key part of how our governance team operates is to ensure that our quality assurance frameworks and audit methods align with the CQC inspection models and regulated standards.
We are registered with the CQC to provide two types of regulated activity:
Accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance abuse.
Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
Our rehabilitation services are registered for both activities, whilst our community and prison-based services only require the second activity to be met.
By aligning with the CQC framework, we can work to ensure that our services all adhere to the five key domains, which ask:
Our services are SAFE.
Our services are EFFECTIVE.
Our services are CARING.
Our services are RESPONSIVE.
Our services are WELL LED.
Our internal audit is therefore based on these domains and the CQC single assessment framework.
More info on CQC can be found on their website.
As part of our governance structures, we ensure that we have clear management systems across four key areas of our organisation. We hold certification to International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards that demonstrates that The Forward Trust works to international or national best practice, highlighting our credibility and competence to stakeholders and customers.
Certifications are legally obligated in some industries, while in other industries they are often included in tender requirements.
The Forward Trust currently holds four accreditations; these are in relation to our management systems in the following areas:
1. ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS)
This standard outlines requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving a QMS. Businesses that adopt ISO 9001 ensure they have effective processes and trained staff to consistently deliver high-quality products or services. It has seven defined quality management principles, including a strong customer focus and continual improvement. This standard helps us to improve our performance, meet customer expectations, and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to quality.
2. ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems
This standard is given for environmental management systems (EMS). It provides a framework for us to design and implement an EMS, helping us to improve our environmental performance, comply with legal requirements, and achieve sustainability goals.
3. ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S)
This is the standard that we align to that helps us to proactively improve workplace safety, reduce risks, and create healthier working conditions. This standard helps us to systematically assess hazards, implement risk control measures, and comply with OH&S regulations. It follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) methodology, ensuring continual improvement in health and safety performance
4. ISO 27001 Information Security Management System (ISMS)
ISO 27001 is the standard created by the ISO which deals with Information security management. It is a way of making sure that we are managing information security risks and data effectively. This standard helps us to establish and maintain an effective ISMS, using a continual improvement approach. We will systematically assess any risks to the organisation’s information security and put in place policies and procedures to manage those risks.
At The Forward Trust, it is fundamental that staff and service users are all protected. Our governance team work hard to ensure that the correct safeguarding policies are in place to ensure that this is the case. Our Safeguarding and Organisational Responsibility Framework outlines the key elements of our practice, whilst our Safeguarding Performance Framework measures how we hold ourselves accountable to ensure our practice is effective.
In 2023, The Forward Trust launched our first ever Domestic Abuse Strategy. What began as an initiative by the Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) in response to staff feedback, has now developed into a comprehensive, quarterly reviewing process carried out by designated safeguarding leads. It includes everything from promoting awareness of domestic abuse and its impacts, to recognising the signs of domestic abuse and advice on how to support a colleague who is experiencing domestic abuse.
You can find our pledge on this strategy below:
“Having worked within drug treatment services for over 15 years, it gives me huge pride to be part of an organisation spearheading a strategy to support their staff who may have experienced or be experiencing domestic abuse.
“Quite often in our job roles, our focus is on our clients and their support needs, but Forward recognises the significant risks that domestic abuse can pose for our staff.
“As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, I am committed to this strategy and working with my colleagues to provide a supportive and responsive scheme that staff can feel confident in.”
- Caroline Scott, Director of Governance
For more information on how The Forward Trust is governed, please email forward.feedback@forwardtrust.org.uk.
