The Quality Seal is designed to be a ‘peer recognition’ process for QA organizations to recognize that they are operating as a model of good practice in relation to the quality assurance of substance use disorders treatment services. Importantly the Quality Seal is an award for a QA organization that has performed quality assurance activities in substance use disorders treatment services based on a set of standards and criteria aligned with the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders (2020, WHO/UNOD) and the Key Quality Standards (2021, UNODC et al).
The Quality Seal also shows that the SUD treatment services that ‘pass’ the QA organizations’ quality assurance processes are operating in line with current international guidelines and are of a known and recognizable quality.
Process to Obtain the Quality Seal for QA Organizations
QA organizations interested in obtaining the ICQ Quality Seal are requested to complete the Application Form contained in Appendix 1 of the Guidance Document.
The specific guidance and suggested evidence required for each criterion is outlined in Section 4.
Three Levels of Certification and Recognition
There are 3 levels of certification and recognition for organizations applying to obtain the international Quality Seal Award. At each level, an organization is recognized with the provision of a certificate demonstrating their degree of compliance with the nine standards. As described below, each level has a set of prescribed standards and criteria that must be met before moving to the next level. The set of prescribed standards and criteria for each level are color coded in the application form:
- Foundation: an organization has fully demonstrated their compliance with 6 prescribed criteria of the 21 criteria (29% of the total criteria). They can proceed to the next level with annual reports on actions taken to move forward towards the Quality Seal Award.
- Intermediate: an organization has fully demonstrated their compliance with an additional 8 prescribed criteria of the 21 criteria. At this level, organizations have now complied with 67% of the total criteria.
- Quality Seal Award: an organization has fully demonstrated their compliance with the remaining 7 criteria. At this level, organizations have fully complied with all criteria for the Quality Seal Award and can receive the Quality Seal Award certificate.
Quality Seal Application Process
An overview of the Quality Seal Application Process is provided in the following diagram and explained more fully in the Guidance Document:
Standards to be met for the Quality Seal Award
Process to Obtain the Quality Seal for Treatment Providers
If you have received full accreditation from one of the QA agencies listed on our website (please visit Quality Assurance Organizacions Awarded), see the steps below to obtain the Quality Seal Award certificate:
- Please complete the ‘Contact us’ form on our website and indicate that you wish to obtain the quality seal award certificate.
- Upon receipt, of the contact us form, the ICQ secretariat will respond to you and ask for additional information pertaining to verification of your full accreditation status and the name of the QA agency.
- The ICQ secretariat will contact the QA agency you have referenced and verify your standing with them.
- These steps will be followed by an email to indicate the status and to provide you with information on the quality seal award certificate.
- Upon approval, the name of the treatment provider will be added to our website.
| If you want to know more about "Guidelines and ICQ Standards for QA Organizations to Apply for the Quality Seal Award" click on the book to download |
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| If you want to know more about "Guidance Document: Section 4 - Standards for QA Organizations" click on the book to download |
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| If you want to know more about "Guidance Document: Appendix 2 - Glossary of Terms" click on the book to download |
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| If you want to know more about "Guidance Document: Appendix 1 - Application Form" click on the book to download |
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