Abstract
Despite strong economies, approximately one in six Australian households experience food insecurity. Food relief and affordable food retail are available, but to be effective, services need to be delivered with more choice, dignity and connections beyond food. Currently, no self-assessment tools exist to support this transition and ongoing quality improvement.
In collaboration with community sector and government partners, we developed and piloted a self-assessment tool, the ‘Service Checker’, for service providers. Twelve ‘best practice’ elements were co-designed with partners and used as a priori domains for a new self-assessment tool. A structured literature search identified 20 similar existing tools, from which items were extracted. An item bank (12 domains, 98 items) was drafted and tested for face validity with research collaborators and partners (n=16). Refinements resulted in a draft tool with 9 domains and 75 items. Pilot-testing was conducted via online survey (currently underway). Data will be analysed to determine acceptability, targeting, internal consistency and item dependency. Factor analysis will determine construct validity.
The Service Checker is a research-tested self-assessment tool that can be used by community service organisations to self-reflect on food relief practice. In future it can be used to inform quality improvement planning for increasing social impact.
In collaboration with community sector and government partners, we developed and piloted a self-assessment tool, the ‘Service Checker’, for service providers. Twelve ‘best practice’ elements were co-designed with partners and used as a priori domains for a new self-assessment tool. A structured literature search identified 20 similar existing tools, from which items were extracted. An item bank (12 domains, 98 items) was drafted and tested for face validity with research collaborators and partners (n=16). Refinements resulted in a draft tool with 9 domains and 75 items. Pilot-testing was conducted via online survey (currently underway). Data will be analysed to determine acceptability, targeting, internal consistency and item dependency. Factor analysis will determine construct validity.
The Service Checker is a research-tested self-assessment tool that can be used by community service organisations to self-reflect on food relief practice. In future it can be used to inform quality improvement planning for increasing social impact.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 549 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | ANZMAC Conference Proceedings |
| Volume | 2024 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2024 |
Keywords
- Service quality improvement
- Food relief
- Food services