Standards 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