Values and Standards

Core Values

• Community of Communities has developed a set of 10 Core Values subscribed to by all members of the Community of Communities Network

• The values articulate the basic principles and philosophy of Therapeutic Communities

• Services may use the values to provide context for the standards and to inform training relating to Therapeutic Community practice

• The values are not intended to be measured as part of the self- and peer-review process.

Core Standards

• The Core Standards represent the basic requirements of a service using a Therapeutic Community approach

• The standards link Therapeutic Communities across sectors and client populations and can be used independently to support the development of therapeutic practice.

• More information about the development of the Core Standards and Core Values can be found in this briefing paper

Core Values  and Core Standards Briefing Paper

Service Standards

• Community of Communities has developed four sets of service standards for member TCs working in different sectors and using modified versions of the TC model

• Adult Democratic TCs exist in health, social care and in prison settings and are reviewed using the Service Standards for Therapeutic Communities 5th Edition in their annual cycle.  Adult Democratic NHS and HMP TCs are eligible for accreditation through an additional review using the NHS Commissioning Standards or Prison Service Standards respectively (see "Accreditation")

• Addiction TCs exist in social care and in prison settings and are reviewed using the Service Standards for Addiction Therapeutic Communities

• Children and Young People TCs exist in health and social care and are reviewed using the Service Standards for Therapeutic Communities for Children and Young People 2nd Edition

• Learning Disability Communities (or Intentional Communities) exist within social care and are reviewed using the Service Standards for Communities for People with Learning Disabilities

Service Standards for Therapeutic Communities 5th Edition	Service Standards for Addiction Therapeutic Communities 1st Edition	Service Standards for Therapeutic Communities for Children and Young People 2nd Edition	Service Standards for Communities for People with Learning Disabilities 1st Edition

Development and Consultation

• All Community of Communities Service Standards are developed by an advisory group of experts including practitioners from statutory and voluntary sectors, former and current service users, managers and executive directors and those involved in policy development

• Once developed the Service Standards are sent to all Communities and other experts known in the sector for a broad consultation.  Communities are asked to rate the standards as “not important”, “important” or “very important” in providing a good quality TC based approach.  Communities are also asked to suggest any new standards

• Feedback from the broad consultation is analysed with low rated standards removed or reworded.  Any contentious issues raised are discussed and resolved within the advisory group

• The Service Standards are then published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research and Training Unit 

• This process of development and consultation ensures the Service Standards reflect contemporary TC practice and represent developing views on the central elements of TC practice

For more information about each of the Service Standards, please navigate using the links below

• Service Standards for Therapeutic Communities 5th Edition 

• Service Standards for Addiction Therapeutic Communities 1st Edition

• Service Standards for Therapeutic Communities for Children and Young People 2nd Edition

• Service Standards for Communities for People with Learning Disabilities 1st Edition