Report praises Shropshire’s registration service

Shropshire County Council’s registration service has been praised by Government inspectors following an annual review of the service.

Twelve months ago the service was awarded the Government’s prestigious Charter Mark, in recognition of the high-quality customer service provided by its staff.

In a review carried out to ensure that the Charter Mark standards are being maintained, assessors said that the service has actually improved over the last year, and found high and rising levels of customer satisfaction.

Shropshire Registration & Celebratory Services delivers a range of services to people across the county, including the registration of births, marriages and deaths, civil weddings, civil partnerships and civil naming ceremonies, citizenship ceremonies and nationality checking.

In their report, assessors commented that in the past year the service has “implemented a range of customer-focused improvements… and this is commendable.”

They praised the importance placed on consultation with local residents when it comes to improving services, and said that “a range of excellent, customer-focussed partnerships” have helped improve the service offered to customers.

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire County Council’s Cabinet member for community well-being, said: “The Charter Mark recognises the high quality of the registration and celebratory services that we provide, the work we carry out to improve services and, most importantly, the efforts of our staff to deliver the best services, and the best service, to our customers. To receive such a positive report is testament to the continued hard work of our staff who continue to put the customer at the heart of everything they do.”

Further information

(1) Charter Mark is the national standard that recognises excellence in customer service. It places an emphasis on setting standards, consultation, openness and co-operative working, and is open to all areas of public service, including central and local government, health, education and housing.

(2) To achieve the standard, the organisations have to demonstrate that:

- They offer choice to their customers so that a wide range of needs are catered for.
- The benefits of new technology are maximised.
- Complaints, compliments and suggestions from customers and staff help improve service.

(3) Achievement of the standard is recognised by awarding the right to display the prestigious Charter Mark logo on promotional material and at Shropshire’s 13 registration service points. Shropshire’s registration service points are located in Bishop’s Castle, Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Craven Arms, Ellesmere, Ludlow, Market Drayton, Oswestry, Shifnal, Shrewsbury, Wem and Whitchurch.

8 May 2008