The BORG and the QUALITY MARK:

At the time of writing it is estimated that only 1 in 4 teaching supply agencies holds the DCSF Quality Mark, which is audited and awarded by the REC. The Quality Mark is, in effect, a kite-mark and therefore some assurance of an agency’s performance in respect of daily supply teachers (though it does touch on longer-term and permanent contracts). 

Because of that, the Quality Mark has been a prerequisite for, for example, inclusion on London’s Preferred Supplier List. Meanwhile some councils and authorities will allow agencies to supply them on the proviso that, even if they have not already been awarded the Quality Mark, they are demonstrably working towards winning it (i.e. they have recently lodged an application with the REC). Broadly speaking the Quality Mark therefore adds value to an agency because it allows it access to a discerning market. But, of course, to hold the award is likely to boost the worth of the agency in respect of valuations for any purpose (e.g. to raise capital or to attract potential acquisitors).

The Quality Mark is held for two years, after which a further audit is undertaken.

The process of applying for the Quality Mark involves lodging a written application that should provide both policy statements corresponding to 19 areas, known as ‘standards’, and proof that the agency has established the systems to deliver the same.

Those policy statements should correspond to the specifications laid down by the DCSF and REC, although the agency may supplement and reinforce the specifications, and although it may also find a variety of ways to deliver what is required. Once the Quality Mark is awarded, which occurs during or as a consequence of a day-long inspection by the REC, the agency is expected to continue to perform to the required standards and could be stripped of the award if, in extremis, it failed to comply.

The BORG, if intelligently utilized by an agency, provides all of the policy statements and documents, all of the letters and systems, to bring the Quality Mark within easy reach. Ownership of The BORG cannot in itself guarantee the award of the Quality Mark. But, as the product of over 2,000 hours of development, it closes the gap by allowing an agency to benefit form an enormous amount of hard work and insight into what is required. For smaller agencies The BORG allows proprietors to punch above their weight because it provides a resource that cannot be bettered even in bigger agencies. But there are still enormous benefits to be had even for multi-site agencies because the BORG provides a scalable system that can make it easier to guarantee all offices employ best practices that are Quality-Mark compliant.

For obvious reasons some of the information which would go to the REC within your application ought to remain confidential  (this would perhaps include teacher days and an overview of company accounts). So these items are referred to in the accompanying letter which comes bundled within The BORG, but agencies are left to add the detail to their own frontispiece and to add sensitive appendices.

Lastly, users are asked to answer a short series of questions which will generate declarations regarding, for example, whether the agency initiates its own CRB checks or utilizes an umbrella body. Experience has shown that most agencies now comply with best practices and therefore assumptions have been made which will be correct for the vast majority of agencies. Nevertheless, if a wrong assumption has been made – and this would be reflected in the policy statements and in other files – then the process of editing files is relatively simple.