Green Care
Quality Mark

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The Green Care Quality Mark Additional Site Form

This subform is to provide information about an additional site which is linked to the Main Green Care Organisation listed below, which must have already submitted their full application. 

Please read the Green Care Quality Statement and the Notes below before completing this form. A guide to how to fill out this online form can be found opposite.

The Green Care Quality Statement

The Green Care Quality Mark is divided into 3 sections, each comprising different elements and a section to give more information about your organisation:

  • About your organisation
  • 1. We run a responsible organisation
  • 2. We care about the people we work with
  • 3. Our organisation is a safe place to be

Green care includes nature-based services such as care Social Care Farming, Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH), community gardening and animal assisted services (e.g. Equine Assisted Therapy). Green care services provide health, social and / or specialist educational care services for the benefit of service users with a range of defined needs (e.g. clinical, social or educational), through the use of farming, gardening or animal-related activities. A structured programme of meaningful, hands-on activities in nature on a farm, in a garden or other natural environment, promotes physical and mental health and well-being and can provide excellent therapeutic and educational opportunities.

The Green Care Quality Mark (GCQM) is a clear set of standards, intended to meet the requirements of referral agencies, service users and their families to show that organisations meeting the Quality Mark are safe, professional and efficacious. It is intended as a Quality Standard for green care provision, assured through a process of self-assessment.

The Quality Mark assesses the organisation rather than the individual delivering green care and is site specific. An organisation delivering green care at multiple sites but sharing the majority of their policies can use our multiple sites option, once the initial site has gained their Award. This allows the additional sites to gain the Award at a reduced price.

The self-assessment applications are peer-reviewed by experienced green care practitioners and Social Farms & Gardens (SF&G) staff, affirming the organisation's commitment to following the Quality Mark. In this way, quality standards are maintained by green care providers and their stakeholders, without imposition from external agencies.

As green care provision is very diverse, some elements of the Quality Mark may not be relevant to all sites.

Notes:

This is a self-assessment form, so it is the responsibility of the organisation to provide accurate information. Green care providers use different words to describe the people who they provide services for (e.g. client, service user, co-farmer, farm volunteer etc.) in this Quality Mark we have used the term 'service user' throughout, however this is not necessarily the preferred term. Also, throughout the application we use the term ‘volunteer’ to refer to a person who provides support to the service users but is not a paid member of staff.

Each green care provider is fully and individually responsible for the way it carries out its business: Social Farms & Gardens can only serve to enable and facilitate, and not accept any liability.

If anything changes that may affect your self-assessment of the Quality Mark (e.g. ownership change; changes in enterprises or service user groups of your organisation; or if one of the standards falls below requirements), these changes and associated evidence should be amended and highlighted in your document and re-submitted to Social Farms & Gardens.

In order to continue meeting the Green Care Quality Mark, your organisation will be asked annually to confirm that you still meet the standards and to report any changes or challenges.

In addition, Social Farms & Gardens will from time-to-time issue revisions to the Green Care Quality Mark, as and when necessary. When such changes that may alter your self-assessment are required, we shall notify you in writing of the details of these changes and will require you to submit a statement to confirm that you comply with them ASAP, but no later than 8 weeks.

This Green Care Quality Mark represents a set of minimum standards to which green care providers should adhere. It is the aim of Social Farms & Gardens to ensure that all green care providers in the UK go through the GCQM process to maintain high quality service provision within the green care sector.

More about the Green Care Quality Mark and how it has been developed can be found on the Social Farms & Gardens website

As organisations and sites vary enormously, please provide the following details. The information you provide in this section is purely to help us get a feel for your organisation and what services you are providing and for whom. This is not part of your assessment.

If you answered ‘other’, please give more details here

Please tell us the approximate size here (e.g. acres, Hectares, m2)

If you answered ‘other’, please give more details here

If you answered ‘other’, please give more details here

The organisation adheres to legal obligations where applicable.


We have secure storage of all medication, veterinary equipment and sharps

Note: this is for green care sites in England only
We comply with licensing requirements under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 as required by our Local Authority


We have suitable, safe and secure animal isolation facilities

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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The operation meets the Five Domains of Animal Welfare as set out by the RSPCA, RSPCA Cymru, USPCA and SPCA.


We have annual veterinary inspection reports, or equivalent other external evidence

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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The organisation has a comprehensive health and safety policy which shows our commitment to our staff and service users.


We have a comprehensive health & safety policy in place that meets the standards required by the Health and Safety Executive


Our health and safety policy is signed by the most senior member of staff, dated and reviewed annually

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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The organisation is keeping abreast of understanding any changes in legislation or commissioners' policy.
We keep abreast of understanding any changes in legislation or commissioners' policy

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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The organisation is aware that any significant changes to the way it is run, occurrence of any major incidents etc. can affect its ‘Quality Mark’ status.
We agree to keep Social Farms & Gardens informed of any significant changes.

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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The organisation takes care of personal belongings.
We provide facilities where personal belongings can be kept secure.

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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A dry, warm and comfortable space is available in case of extreme weather, as well as somewhere to eat and take a break.
We have suitable indoor space available

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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Alternative activities are available in case of extreme weather or any change in need of service users.
We provide alternative activities as necessary

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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As much of the green care operation is accessible as possible to people with additional needs.
We endeavour to make our green care site as accessible as possible.

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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Adequate, safe parking is available on site (or accessible to the site) and vehicular traffic is separated from pedestrian walkways (where appropriate).


Adequate, safe parking is available on site (or accessible to the site).


Vehicular traffic is separated from pedestrian walkways (where appropriate).

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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The organisation maintains all necessary safety records.


We comply with relevant environmental health standards


We comply with the relevant legislation on accidents, injuries and near misses and illness


We have all electrical safety certificates (e.g. Electrical Inspection Condition Report (EICR)) in place at all times.


All of our portable electrical appliances are regularly EET tested as required.


As we use gas on site (either mains and / or LPG), we have a current gas safety certificate in place at all times.

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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Practical Emergency procedures are written and effectively disseminated, for emergencies (such as fire, missing persons, severe weather, behaviour management policy and procedure, power failure, etc.)
We have all required emergency policies and procedures in place.

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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Use of COSHH substances is kept to a minimum, control measures are in place, and records kept.


All our COSHH substances are safely and securely stored as per requirements.

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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Adequate First Aid arrangements are available when service users are on site.


We have a trained First Aider on site when service users are present.


We have a ‘First Aid Appointed Person’ for the site

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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People on site know what risks are present on site and while involved in various activities, and what has been done (or needs to be done) to avoid harm.


We have a Fire Safety Risk Assessment in place, as required by law.


We have a generic Risk Assessment describing the hazards that may be present on site


We have separate Risk Assessments for each activity that carries significant risk without safety precautions

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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To avoid cross contamination, we have adequate handwashing and toilet facilities on site.


As we have animals on site, we meet the Industry Code of Practice “Preventing or Controlling Ill Health from Animal Contact at Visitor Attractions”.

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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Suitable and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is issued for relevant operations, and their use enforced.


We ensure adequate PPE is available at all times.

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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All signs and markings on site are clearly visible. Any health and safety signage is of an approved design, complying with The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996.


All our signs and markings are clearly visible


Our Health and safety signs are of an approved design

If you have answered no, please provide further explanation here

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This form will be reviewed in conjunction with the submission for the main site. Please note, the additional site cannot be awarded the Green Care Quality Mark until the main site has achieved the Award.