Health Quality Mark

NYCI has developed the Health Quality Mark (HQM) as a health promotion initiative with a view to enhancing best practice and a high standard of quality in all aspects of health promotion in youth organisations.

The HQM is a set of quality standards in youth health promotion and takes the form of an award conferred on organisations that satisfy agreed quality criteria. The criteria, twelve in total, have been drawn up by the NYCI and are based on best practice in health promotion at a regional and national level, as outlined in various strategy documents.

Much of the criteria have been drawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria that were developed for the Health Promoting Schools Initiative and adapted by the NYCI. As a result, varying levels of the HQM are available – bronze, silver and gold, according to the levels of the criteria achieved.

Support Manual

This support manual has been designed to support youth organisations in pursuit of the NYHP’s Health Quality Mark (HQM) and includes:

An introduction to the National Youth Health Programme.
An overview of the principles and concepts which underwrite the HQM.
An overview of the HQM and accompanying criteria.
An overview of the assessment process.
A range of support materials in relation to the achievement of each criterion.
Information on links with other relevant quality frameworks, particularly
the National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF).

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The HQM Criteria

Criterion 1

Health promotion policy

Criterion 2

(a) Role description for health promoter

(b) Terms of reference for the health promotion team

Criterion 3

Organisational health promotion strategy including:

A Youth Health Promotion Plan
A Workplace Health Promotion Plan

Criterion 4

Youth Participation structures, including:

A Youth Participation Plan
A Youth Participation Charter

Criterion 5

Peer health promotion initiative

Criterion 6

Organisational health-related policies

Criterion 7

Training plan for staff/volunteers and management

Criterion 8

Intersectoral working and partnerships, including active community involvement

Criterion 9

Model of good practice for health promotion activities, including needs assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation

Criterion 10

Planetary Health

Criterion 11

Ensuring and promoting equality and inclusiveness

Criterion 12

A Safe organisation

Safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures
Workplace health and safety

Support Manual

Aim of the Health Quality Mark

The HQM aims to embed health promotion practice within the youth organisations. In addition, the HQM aims to recognise and acknowledge quality health promotion

Objectives

To develop and sustain quality health promotion practice in youth organisations.
To ensure good practice in health promotion through needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of health promotion activities throughout the organisation.
To enhance a teamwork approach and sense of ownership for all those involved.
To ensure that health-related policies, programmes, and practice is integrated effectively.
To promote the health of all those involved in the youth organisation, including young people, staff, volunteers, and management.
To ensure that work is consistently documented.
To stimulate and encourage a culture of assessing quality.

Benefits of the health quality mark to successful organisations:

Recognises and acknowledges good practice and a high standard of quality in all aspects of health promotion.
Positively differentiates ‘health-promoting youth organisations’ from their service providers in the youth sector
Ensures ongoing support and training from the NYHP to successful organisations so that they can maintain their HQM award.
Prepares the organisation for participating in other quality frameworks.

Who is eligible to apply?

An organisation must successfully complete the ‘Level 7 Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion’, delivered by the NYHP in conjunction with the University of Galway. At least one person from the organisation must complete the certificate; they will then be the dedicated ‘Health Promoter’ who will liaise with the health promotion team and representatives from the NYHP.

Organisations must participate in a HQM workshop, organised and delivered by the NYHP, and develop a close working relationship with the NYHP.

The Application Process

Step 1

Expression of interest from the youth organisation, identification of a dedicated health promoter.

Step 2

Health Promoter completes the Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion.

Step 3

NYHP provides the organisation with an HQM workshop, and a health promotion team is convened.

Step 4

Support Staff from the NYHP meet and liaise with the health promotion team and develop a work plan for the HQM award.

Step 5

The Health Promotion team compiles a portfolio of evidence as per award level, with support from the NYHP.

Step 6

Site visits and assessment of the portfolio by a representative from the NYHP

Step 7

The award is presented to the organisation. The process continues until the achievement of the Gold HQM Award.

Step 8

Re-monitoring occurs every 3 years and will involve a site visit, updated portfolio, with support provided by the NYHP at agreed intervals.

HQM Award Recipients

HQM Active Projects

Blakestown Mountview Neighbourhood Youth Project

Blanchardstown Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force

Buncrana Youthreach

Carlow Regional Youth Service

Cloyne Diocesan Youth Service

Cork Foyer

Donegal ETB

Finglas Youth Resource Centre

Irish Girl Guides

Kerry Community Youth Service

Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board, Sports Promotion Unit

Leitrim Community Training Centre

Letterkenny Youthreach

Limerick Youth Service

No. 4 Youth Services

Noname Club

Pleasant Street Youthreach

Sligo Community Training Centre

St. Andrew’s Resource Centre

Swan Youth Service

The Priory Youthreach

YES Centre Clondalkin

Youth Work Ireland Midlands

Youth Work Ireland North Connaught

Youth Work Ireland Tipperary

HQM Support Documents

HQM Support Manual

HQM Criteria Audit Template

Criterion 1

Policy Framework

Criterion 2

Terms of Reference for Health Promotion Team

Sample Meeting Record Template

Criterion 3

Health Promotion Strategy Template

Criterion 4

Youth Participation Quiz

Implementation Tool Template

Criterion 5

Peer Health Promotion Initiative Template

Criterion 6

List of policies in organisation related to Health Promotion, e.g., anti-bullying, anti-smoking, support and supervision etc.

Criterion 7

Checklist for Training and Development

Sample needs analysis, training, and development plans

Criterion 8

Framework For Evaluating Partnerships

Criterion 9

Template model of good practice health promotion

Checklist Model of good practice

Criterion 10

Introduction to SDGs and Planetary Health Workshop, Part 1

Introduction to SDGs and Planetary Health Workshop, Part 2- Global Issues

Introduction to SDGs and Planetary Health workshop, Part 3- The SDGs

Introduction to SDGs and Planetary Health, Workshop, Part 4- Planetary Health

Introduction to SDGs and Planetary Health, Workshop, Part 4-Pollution

Introduction to SDGs and Planetary Health, Workshop, Part 6- Solutions

Criterion 11

Master checklist for Equality Proofing

Criterion 12

Best Practice for Safeguarding Children, Audit Tool

Health and Safety Checklists and Templates

For more information on child safeguarding, visit: https://www.youth.ie/programmes/child-protection/