QISMET is an independent not-for-profit body that supports self-management education providers and commissioners to achieve the highest possible quality service for people living with long-term health conditions.
We do this by developing Quality Standards defining good practice in self-management education, and testing and approving providers against these Standards. This approval is called accreditation or certification.
Certification
QISMET provides accreditation (sometimes known as certification) of self-management education interventions against 3 best practice Quality Standards: QIS2015, DSME and SS2Q. For details of each of these Standards and what they contain see the other boxes on this page.
Accreditation is a process of checking what providers do compared with what the Standards require. We have a team of experienced auditors who carry out audits. Once you have passed you will be able to use our logo and get a certificate. Please contact Graham Baker using the contact form for further details or click below for details of how to get accredited and our Register of Certificated Providers
During the present CoVid-19 pandemic we are adopting a practical and pragmatic approach to accreditation. We are extending the duration of certifications for organisations approaching the end of their three year accreditation period. We are also carrying out all accreditations remotely. Please contact Graham Baker for further details of how we can work with you during this difficult time.
QIS2015
QIS 2015 is our 'universal' Quality Standard. It can be used by providers of any type of self-management intervention, including digital provision, one-to-one approaches, phone interventions, apps, group based approaches, etc. The key requirements are that the intervention must involve structured education and must have clearly defined outcomes.
It contains the fundamentals of good practice that apply for any type of self-management education intervention.
If you are a provider of diabetes group-based programmes, then you may prefer to consider our DSME Standard which was developed just for you. Otherwise click on the box below to find out what QIS 2015 is all about.
Diabetes Self-management Education
Are you a provider of group-based self-management programmes to people living with diabetes and their carers?
QISMET has a Quality Standard specifically for you. It covers all aspects of managing and running high quality education programmes that meet NICE and all other national requirements. Find out more and download the full DSME standard here by clicking on the box below.
SMRC Courses
We have a Quality Standard specifically for providers of lay-led self management programmes based on what was originally called the Stanford model. These courses operate under a licence from the Self-Management Resource Centre, provided in the UK by Talking Health Taking Action (THTA). The courses were originally known in the UK as the Expert Patient Programme.
The Standard is called 'Stepping Stones to Quality' - SS2Q. It defines best practice for providers of these programmes. The latest simplified and updated version was released in 2017.
We have also developed a Training and Support Framework with THTA for people who actually deliver the programmes.
We are pleased to announce that we are the UK lead partner for an EU funded project called EFFICHRONIC. Five countries are taking part - the UK, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
The aim to evaluate the effectiveness of SMRC programmes with vulnerable people throughout Europe, and make recommendations for us future use. We are working with 6 local providers of programmes to identify vulnerable people and ask them a series of questions before and after programme delivery. The results will be available in late 2020.
The project 738127/EFFICHRONIC has received funding from the European Union's Health Programme (2014-2020)
Commissioners
If you are a commissioner or funder of self-management interventions of any type, we can be of assistance to you by:
Certification Register
QISMET accredits (certificates) providers against its three Quality Standards. This lasts for three years.
If you would like to see who is currently accredited by us, and for what, please click on the link below.
Congratulations to our latest accredited providers
√ Epilepsy Action