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Case Study: Rachel

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Case Study: Rachel, Quality Checker

Rachel was supported by Derek as a communication partner to coproduce this case study interview.

Our team visits places where we offer support to do quality checks. Quality Checkers are experts by experience.

This means, because of lived experience of autism and/or learning disabilities, our team can give a unique perspective on what things are like for people. Our aim is to support positive change. We visit with a positive attitude to offer feedback and suggestions where needed.

On a visit, we engage with people who live there, as gathering their opinions is crucial. This is the primary purpose of our visit. We ask the people who live there questions as well as speaking to our colleagues and the managers. We take notes and then reconvene a day or two later to discuss what we found and coproduce a report. That report goes back to the managers and to the Quality team. We then follow up about three or four months later to see what’s changed.

People who already have support make great quality checkers because they’re on the inside noticing the everyday stuff. I think that the difference in what we’re doing is that our Quality Checkers are paid employees, rather than people with lived experience who are just asked to collaborate – it’s employment.

“I wanted to start working and earn some money. I wanted to work with Derek as well as get out and meet new people, see new places.”

From the very start, the recruitment for the role was as accessible as possible. The Treat Me Right! Team coproduced a job advert video and information about the role in easy read. It said you can apply any way you want. Give us a ring, make a video, send us an email, just get in touch. The team made sure people had support with the application process in whatever way was needed. I could choose to do the interview in person, on the phone, or in an online video. I was told in advance there was only one question in the interview – ‘Why do you want this job?’

“When we started to think of employing Quality Checkers I immediately thought of Rachel. She speaks her mind, which is something that’s important in this role. She’s sociable too, so I knew it was likely to be something she’d be interested in.” Derek, Quality Checker Coordinator