The Quality Mark: a mark of what? The Community Legal Service and especially its quality assurance system - the Quality Mark - has taken the advice sector by storm. In their article (below) Penny Waterhouse and Andy Benson describe the lack of opposition or resistance to its introduction, and how the advice networks have worked closely with the State in designing the very system that will police its members. They question whether the Quality Mark does improve or even accurately measure the quality of advice provision and suggest that it can have a negative impact on advice services. They also ask how the advice sector, skilled at challenging bad behaviour and protective of its independence, finds itself in such a submissive and compromised position. The Quality Mark: a mark of what? The original article, which appeared in the November issue of Adviser magazine. The Quality Mark Update An update on responses to the article. Quality - where to now? Jim Fearnley of the Advice Services Alliance takes forward the debate about how to assure the quality of advice. This article was commissioned by Adviser magazine and will appear in the May 2002 issue. Lasa does not necessarily agree with all the views expressed in the 'Quality Mark: a mark of what?' article but believes that it raises some key issues that could determine the future of advice services. We welcome the opportunity to encourage this debate from those involved in the delivery of advice services be they individual advisers, managers, networks, funders or policy makers from local, regional or national organisations and networks.		For more information and queries on 'The Quality Mark: a mark of what' article and its update, contact: Penny Waterhouse and Andy Benson at pa@penandy.demon.co.uk For more information and queries on ASA's 'Quality - where to now?' article contact: Jim Fearnley at jim.fearnley@asauk.org.uk
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