Background Information

The Information Standard has been developed by engaging with accreditation experts, organisations involved in standards development and a representative group of information producers (organisations producing health and social care information for the public).

A draft standard was tested with 39 information producers from public, private and voluntary sectors and has been refined to produce a robust and workable standard.

The development of the scheme also considered the experience of other schemes which look at individual pieces of information (e.g. Crystal Mark). The process-based approach had wide support from stakeholders and was felt to be the best and most practical way of establishing a scheme with a long life.

Throughout the pilot phase we (G4S Assessment Services) acted as an assessment body to the Department of Health. Following on from our success we were delighted to be awarded the status of official assessment body for the launch of the standard.