IN-Qualis - Quality standard for work integration
IN-Qualis is a standard that describes the requirements for a quality management system. It was created specifically to ensure and develop quality in the area of labour integration services.
The standard was previously known as SVOAM. Following the revision in 2017/2018, the successor standard was published on 1 March 2019 under the new name IN-Qualis:2018.
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Work integration organisations support people with special needs in their social integration and integration into the labour market or into a training position (basic vocational training) with the aim of (re-)establishing, improving or maintaining their employability.
The standard offers modular elements with the help of which work integration organisations can establish and operate a quality management system.
Offers to promote social and professional integration are provided in various areas in which the quality standard can be applied:
- Unemployment insurance,
- disability and accident insurance,
- social welfare and
- migration sector.
The content of the programmes can vary:
- Offers with internal work opportunities (e.g. workshops, internal companies, studios, group programmes),
- programmes with work opportunities in external companies (e.g. in the private sector, NPOs or public administration),
- individual counselling (job coaching) and educational opportunities.
Summary
The standard has a modular structure and therefore takes account of different requirements.
Module A: Management and organisation
(compulsory module, can be substituted by ISO 9001)
- Requirements of a generic nature for management and support processes as well as organisational development.
Module B: Admission and support process
(compulsory module, not substitutable)
- Basic requirements for case management. Labour integration can only be successful if the offer matches the needs and abilities of the participants.
Module C1: Internal job opportunities
(elective module, not substitutable)
- To be used if own work and employment opportunities are offered (internal workshops, internal operations, studios, group programmes, etc.)
Module C2: Work opportunities in external companies
(elective module, not substitutable)
- A network of partner companies is made available (private sector, NPOs, public administration).
Module C3: Individual counselling
(elective module, not substitutable)
- Offer individual counselling (coaching).
Module C4: Education
(elective module, can be substituted by eduQua)
- Educational offers that serve to qualify for the labour market (language courses, specialist courses).
The regulations and the standard as well as further information can be found on the website of IN-Qualis (Arbeitsintegration Schweiz).
Development
The SVOAM standard underwent a comprehensive revision in 2017/2018.
The revised quality standard IN-Qualis:2018 came into force on 1 March 2019.
The transition from SVOAM to IN-Qualis had to be completed by 1 March 2022 at the latest.
The standard underwent a further revision, resulting in the 2024 version.
The revised IN-Qualis:2024 standard came into force on 01.04.2025.
- Initial certification after 1 April 2025 must be carried out in accordance with the 2024 version.
- Surveillance audits in the interim years are carried out in accordance with the standard to which the current certificate relates.
- 42 months after the revised standard comes into force, i.e. from 1 October 2028, only certificates according to the 2024 version are valid. Recertification in accordance with version 2024 must therefore be completed before 1 October 2028.
Good to know
The requirements that a licence holder must fulfil are set out in the document ‘Regulations for the certification of the IN-Qualis standard’.
These requirements place particular emphasis on the applicant organisation presenting a management system that makes the organisation visible as a totality of mutually influencing processes in the three areas of management and organisation, admission and support, and services for participants.
This approach makes it possible to fulfil the requirement to continuously improve the quality of the services by defining corrective and improvement measures on the basis of regular actual/target comparisons of the effectiveness and benefits of the objectives as well as the processes and resources.
Many tools are available in connection with the development and effective implementation of management systems.
Work Integration Switzerland provides various documents as aids on its website.
You can find answers to many questions on the website of Work Integration Switzerland:
- What is IN-Qualis?
- Which organisations is it suitable for?
- Where can I find the IN-Qualis standard and the regulations?
- What is the use of IN-Qualis certification?
- How is the standard structured? Which modules can be substituted?
- Which C modules must an organisation complete?
- Differentiation of educational parts within modules C1 or C2 and module C4 (education)
- What are the main differences between the IIN Qualis standard and ISO 9001?
- What does certification cost?
- Who carries out the certification?
- How does a certification process work?
- How long is a certificate valid for?
- Which organisations are already IN-Qualis certified?
You will find access to download checklists for the standards certified by us on our websites under ‘Shop’. This also includes a checklist for IN-Qualis.
If you would like to set up a management system, we recommend our course for quality managers as a basis.
The course modules can be attended independently of each other. Those who have attended all modules can take an examination and obtain a diploma.
- Module 1: System structure and documentation
- Module 2: Process optimisation, tools and methods
- Module 3: Interviewing customers and employees
- Module 4: Management-Review
- Module 5: Internal audits for quality, environment and occupational safety
- Module 6: Complaint management
- Module 7: Repetitorium
- Module 8: Examination
You can find more information here.