The Information & Advice Quality Framework (IAQF Wales) has been developed in response to the Welsh Government’s identification of the critical role that information, advice and guidance services should play in supporting the delivery of two of its strategic goals:

• tackling poverty and promoting financial inclusion, and
• promoting equality and building cohesive communities

As a funder of organisations providing free and independent information, advice and guidance services, the Welsh Government has a particular interest in ensuring that the organisations it funds are effectively managed. This means that the information, advice and guidance provided by these funded organisations needs to be up to date and that staff providing front-line advice services have the necessary skills and competencies to provide the best advice possible to clients/service users. However, a review of service found there was a lack of consistency and understanding of what constitutes quality advice and information, within and between agencies.

Hence the IAQF Wales has been developed to provide a consistent approach to ensuring and assuring quality information and advice for the people of Wales.