Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS) has become the first organisation in the UK to be accredited with the QISMET (Quality Institute for Self-Management Education & Training) Stepping Stones to Quality (SS2Q) Standard 2017. The leading local health charity has received the accreditation for its Taking Control Self-Management Programme.
The free six week programme aims to equip people living with long term chest, heart and stroke conditions with the skills and confidence they need to manage their health. The report from the auditors noted that “Feedback about the programme is very positive and is consistently so.”
“It is great to be QISMET accredited as it demonstrates the quality of our programmes and how those living with long-term chest, heart and stroke conditions benefit from them. Receiving this standard is a testament to the hard work put in by our Taking Control staff and volunteers.”
Pauline Millar, Respiratory Services Project Co-ordinator
Frank, from Belfast, took part in the programme after he was diagnosed with a respiratory condition. He explained how Taking Control benefitted him, “I went on the Programme as a complete sceptic, a man waiting to die. However, it was a remarkable experience. Soon, infected by the boundless enthusiasm of the Taking Control team, the group was setting bigger and bigger goals, paying attention to diet, gaining strength from each other, making long term friends….All emerging from the dark.”
The world renowned programme was developed by Stanford University and NICHS is one of only two charities who are licensed to deliver it in Northern Ireland.
For more information on the Taking Control Self-Management Programme visit www.nichs.org.uk/takingcontrol.
