Education and training organisations provide a range of opportunities for young people and adults. In most cases these lead to accredited qualifications. Organisation listed with RateUs listen to what learners have to say about how they are supported to get the most from their experience.

There are two key quality indicators for the delivery of effective education and training - attainment and achievement. These measures are the primary focus of the Common Inspection Framework (CIF). In our view, all other elements of the service such as management, resources, support etc., are secondary to these outcomes. Put another way, if learners attain recognised qualifications, and also achieve in other areas of their Individual Learning Plan, the provider has succeeded.

Whilst attainment can be objectively measured through a moderated accreditation process, achievement is more subjective. Achievement can range from individuals gaining in confidence, through to gaining employment as a direct result of their learning. All this should be negotiated with the learner and reviewed on an ongoing basis. The most important person to comment on how well a learner is achieving is clearly the learner themselves. Each individual knows what they want to gain from their training and education, and how far they have progressed (distance travelled). RateUs provides an effective and secure mechanism for learners to rate the service in confidence on an ongoing basis.

Education and training providers are increasingly having to deliver their services within a partnership arrangement (such as YPPs and Learning Networks). One of the challenges for these partnerships is how to evaluate outcomes across a diverse range of services. Because RateUs centres on core measures, which are applicable to any service area, the Partnership is able to benchmark across all member organisations.

Care and support is provided to young people and adults in settings ranging from care homes and hostels through to home care and fostering. Many of these individuals are vulnerable and organisation listed with RateUs are commited to getting feedback about how they can improve.

Both adults and children are provided with a variety of care and support services by a wide range of providers. Traditionally the quality of that support has primarily been determined by external regulatory bodies, purchasers of services (usually social services) and to a lesser degree by the provider. RateUs provides a mechanism whereby the service user themselves can make real and meaningful comment. The system also 'drives' advocacy support where required, and has an automatic alert system if a user scores one of two critical measures very low.

Care providers are increasingly having to deliver their services within a partnership arrangement (such as YPPs). One of the challenges for these partnerships is how to evaluate outcomes across a diverse range of services. Because RateUs centres on core measures, which are applicable to any service area, the Partnership is able to benchmark across all member organisations.