Wednesday 16:24
Ten local services have been awarded the prestigious Charter Mark Award for 2002. These front line services have achieved excellence in customer services, as judged by independent assessors and are recognised as leaders in their field locally and across the UK.
Some of the winners in the county are * Anglia Railways * Benefits Agency, Suffolk District * Ipswich County Court
Other winners cover services provided by Local Government, Courts, Education, Health, Housing Associations and Transport Authorities
Charter Mark is highly regarded by public service managers and staff as the tool for continuous improvement in customer focus. Over 2,409 UK public sector organisations are now recognised by the Scheme.
The Charter Mark is awarded to public service organisations that continuously improve their customer focus. The scheme does not impose targets or a top down initiative but offers practical ways to make improvements, as well as offering a way to recognise good services and personalised delivery at a local level.
Charter Mark winners have demonstrated that: * they offer choice to their customers so that a wide range of needs are met; * the benefits of new technology are maximised; * users and staff are consulted on where choices can be made; and * Communities have had a say in the design and delivery of local services.
Charter Mark is part of the Government's commitment to driving through change and neatly aligns with the Government's broader agenda for prosperity and opportunity.
The critical role of frontline staff will be further highlighted by the publication of 'Leading from the Front Line', a hands-on guide to help frontline managers improve their services to the public. It encourages public sector leaders to share ideas and best practice as widely as possible and contains a number of relevant case studies from across the country.
It has been written by managers for managers and celebrates the valuable role that frontline staff play in delivering services in this country.
The booklet will distributed to 30,000 senior managers across the Public Sector.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. All Charter Mark applicants are judged and ranked against the following six criteria: * Set standards and perform well; * Actively engage with their customers, partners and staff; * Being fair and accessible to everyone and promoting choice; * Continuously developing and improving; * Using resources effectively and imaginatively; * Contributing to improving opportunities and quality of life in the communities they serve.
2. Charter Mark applicants can be only a public service organisation that provides a direct service to the public, which manages its own staff and budget. Voluntary organisations who receive more than 10% of their income from public funding and also commercial organisations, which are sub-contractors to the public sector, can also apply for a Charter Mark.
3. A Charter Mark may be withdrawn at any time if standards fall below the high quality expected of a Charter Mark holder. To win another Charter Mark, organisations must show real improvements in their service.
4. To view a copy of Leading from the Frontline log into the Office of Public Services website on http://www.pm.gov.uk/opsr
5. EAST Region 2002 Charter Mark Awardees Charter Mark Awardees (by sector)
Local Authorities33 Courts18 Education05 Health08 Housing Associations05 Govt Dept (Customs)01 Transport Authorities01 Next Step Agency (Benefits)01
6. Full List of winners: Suffolk Aldeburgh, Health, Aldeburgh and District Community Hospital, Mrs Patricia Hollingsworth Bury St Edmunds, Court, Court Service, Mrs Michaele Rumsey Ipswich, Court, Court Service, Mrs Evelyn Richardson Ipswich, Local Authority Service, Ipswich Borough Council, Ms Alison Ward Ipswich, Local Authority Service, Ipswich Borough Council, Mrs Carole Wright Ipswich, Next Step Agencies, Benefits Agency, Mr Bob Ward Ipswich, Transport, Mr Jonathan Denby Lowestoft, Court, Court Service, Mrs Julie Fossey Lowestoft, Education, Mrs Susan Barrett Stowmarket, Health, Central Suffolk Primary Care NHS Trust, Mrs Julia Smith
For media information or Charter Mark comments, please contact Nicola Hawdon, Press Officer, Cabinet Office. Tel: Tel. 020 7276 0317. ISSUED ON BEHALF OF CABINET OFFICE BY TRUDI HOWE AT GNN EAST ON 01223 372795.
