At DSN we are very proud of our services and we’re always looking for ways in which to improve them to make sure that our service users experience the maximum possible benefits.
Social Accounting is a system that helps us to examine our performance and further develop our services. By looking at what we do and collecting feedback from the people we work with, we are able to see where things can be improved. Collecting feedback from the people who receive the services means that they get the opportunity to be involved in the future planning of the services and how they are run.
In these challenging financial times it is important that we evidence what we are doing and how we deliver value for money, in order to help funders decide to invest in our services. By looking at the services we provide and measuring the impact of those services on people’s lives, we are able to demonstrate the value of the work we do.
We hope that the process of Social Accounting helps us to raise the profile of DSN and increases awareness of the high quality help and support that we consistently deliver.
We collect information in two parts:
Part 1 Facts & figures, for example:
• How many people we have supported
• How many pieces of equipment we have supplied
• How many training courses have been delivered etc.
Part 2 Feedback from service users and other stakeholders
• Questionnaires
• Meetings
• Positive comments, complaints, suggestions etc.
From the surveys we have carried out so far, we have been reassured to see that the majority of people who have responded believe that DSN does achieve the aims it sets itself and they are very happy with the services they receive. However, there have also been some issues highlighted and this gives us opportunities to examine what we do in more detail and identify any improvements that can be made.
We hope people recognise the value of this positive exercise and support it by giving us feedback and encouraging others to get involved too. Stakeholder’s views are important to us and will help us to prove the value of the work we do and continue to improve our services. Please contact us on 0333 220 5050 for more information.
© 2016 Deafness Support Network is Registered in England & Wales as a Registered Charity No. 506791 and a Company Limited by Guarantee No. 1323762. Registered Office address 144 London Road, Northwich CW9 5HH
