TEPs Topics

Why do the Austrian TEPs work on safeguarding and improving their quality of work?

The Austrian TEPs coordinate comprehensive programmes (please see TEPs in Austria) and implement amongst others innovative measures for the integration of marginalised groups into the labour market (please see ESF SP 3b). In view of the many pact activities safeguarding and improving the quality of the partnerships and their services come to the fore within Austrian-wide TEP activities. Supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection (BMASK) together with the Austrian-wide Co-ordination Unit of the TEPs, Kooo, the TEPs cooperate within 'TEP-Quality Process' on enhancing the quality of work.

What are the aims of the 'TEP-Quality Process'?

With the objective to strengthen the partnerships the process enables for an intensive exchange between the pacts on quality assurance and opens up options for improved cooperation and raised quality of TEPs. Additional aims are:

• to develop joint TEP quality standards;
• to incorporate quality management tools into TEP's work and implement quality management;
• to enhance transparency within TEP operations and processes;
  
• to apply methods and tools for quality assurance; as well as
  
• to publish process results within the "Guide".

The process supports an Austrian-wide consistent policy implementation and improved documentation of services provided by the TEPs as well as contributes to an enhanced measurability of TEPs successes.

How is the process organised and which instruments are being used?

The process is being implemented by Kooo and the Austrian pacts 2008 -(for the time being) 2011. Activities for safeguarding and improving the quality of TEP's work are set jointly. Key results will be published in the form of a "Guide" at project end. Process instruments are a basic analysis, the development and pilot implementation of the TEP quality management system within some pacts as well as mainstreaming the system if successful, 'Quali-TEP-Meetings'and working group meetings, 'Quali-TEP-talks', 'Pact-Mentoring' (so-called 'Quality-Dialogues') and, finally, the release of the publication, the 'Guide'.

Please download the process chart (in German language) here.

What has happened so far?

Joint quality criteria were defined during the first 'Quali-TEP-Meeting' in 2008. Based on survey results alongside the five principles of Good Governance (openness, participation, accountability, effectivity, coherence) implemented by Kooo and discussed together with the partnerships, the TEP Co-ordination Units on "Länder level" develop under guidance of experts the 'TEP-QMS', the 'TEP Quality Management System'. 'TEP-QMS' is modeled on the CAF-system (CAF, 'Common Assessment Framework', is a common European total quality management tool for public-sector organisations) and is based on partnerships' needs. 

How is 'TEP-QMS' being implemented?

Firstly, 'TEP-QMS' will be tested within some pacts and adopted for potential specific regional demands when necessary. Secondly, all TEPs will be invited to exchange their experiences in an Austrian-wide setting so that, finally, all partnerships are motivated to assess their work with 'TEP-QMS' annually. Core areas of self assessment are the key processes taking place within the TEPs ongoingly such as partner's joint project development, decision making processes and coordination on funding. Please find examples of criteria used in the table below.

Examples of criteria used for self assessment by the TEPs

Topic	Examples
Leadership	Organisational structures and processes are in line with strategy and planning Management information systems are in place Participation of regional actors, interest groups, other relevant organisations and professional organisations
Strategy and  Planning	Strengths and weaknesses of pacts are analysed systematically Partnerships' services are being qualified, controlled and evaluated The strategy of the Pact is easy to understand as well as incorporated in partnerships' activities Pact's preparedness to innovation, modernisation and further development
Personal management	Adequate resources of personal Stakeholders and staff are involved in the development of concepts and strategies, processes and measures to improve services
Partnerships and resources	Roles are clearly defined and responsibilities taken Partnerships are established and further developed to jointly create and implement projects Pro-active communication as well as information dissemination is guaranteed
Processes	Partnership processes are coordinated within the pact in order to best use synergies and avoid duplications The partnerships learns from initiatives of others such as other pacts, platforms, networks, organisations
Results	Specification of results orientated towards target groups, stakeholders, society Service orientation of the partnership

The self assessment enables partnerships to discuss, validate and further expand internal development steps taken.

Who is financing the development and implementation of 'TEP-QMS'?

Meetings organised by Kooo are conducted on behalf of BMASK and are financed in the framework of the Operational Programme (OP) for Employment Austria 2007-2013 (co-funded by ESF means). The implementation of 'TEP-QMS' within the partnerships is concluded in the framework of priority 5 of the OP Employment Austria 2007-2013.