A Quality Network of Therapeutic Communities

What is the Community of Communities?

• Community of Communities (C of C) is a standards-based quality improvement programme bringing together Therapeutic Communities (TCs) in the UK and internationally, engaging them in service evaluation and quality improvement using methods and values that reflect their philosophy

• Member communities are found within health, education and social care and prison settings and work with adults and children with a range of complex needs including personality disorder, offending behaviour, addictions, learning disabilities and varying psychoses such as schizophrenia (See also "What is a Therapeutic Community")

• Member communities are guided and supported through an iterative annual cycle of self- and peer-reviews using sector specific service standards of best practice

• C of C offers a robust accreditation scheme, ratified by the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Education Training and Standards Committee, for TCs in health and prison settings and are developing similar services for TCs in social care and education   

• C of C works in partnership with the Association of Therapeutic Communities (ATC), the Charterhouse Group (ChG), the Planned Environment Therapy Trust (PETT), the European Federation of Therapeutic Communities (EFTC) and the TC Open Forum (TC-OF)

• C of C is funded from members’ subscriptions and a Big Lottery grant

What do we do?

• Develop specialist Service Standards in an annual consultation process with members

• Manage an Annual Cycle of self- and peer-review where the emphasis is on engagement as opposed to inspection

• Provide detailed local reports which identify action points and areas of achievement

• Provide a robust system of Accreditation for TCs in the NHS and HM Prison Service

• Publish National Reports which presents an overview of collective performance, identifies common themes and allows for benchmarking

• Host Events and opportunities for members to share their experiences, learn from others and gain support

• Publish a Newsletter four times a year (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter) 

• Manage an active email discussion group - to join please email "Join" to communityofcommunities@cru.rcpsych.ac.uk

• For full details of all services available to members, please see our Benefits of Membership 

What are our aims?

• Provide specialist service standards which identify and describe good TC practice and provide a democratically agreed definition of the model

• Enable therapeutic communities to engage in service evaluation and quality improvement using methods and values that reflect their philosophy, specifically the belief that responsibility is best promoted through interdependence

• Develop a common language which will facilitate effective relationships with commissioners, senior managers and the wider world

• Provide a strong network of supportive relationships

• Promote best practice through shared learning and developing external links

How to join the Community of Communities

• If you are from a TC and are would like to enroll your service in the Community of Communities quality network, please complete and return our joining form: 

• Community of Communities Service Standards

• The Annual Cycle

• Community of Communities Accreditation Process 

• National Reports 

• Member Communities

• News and Events  

• Members Feedback

• Contact Details