The Southend on Sea Darby & Joan Organisation was formed as a charity in 1947 by a group of benefactors,for the sole purpose of providing care and help to the elderly of Southend and the surrounding district,  including Essex and London Boroughs. In 2001 the Organisation was awarded Investors in People status, which was renewed in 2005, 2008 and 2011, recognising its investment in the staff who are the providers of care for the residents who live in the Organisation's homes. The Organisation is firmly committed to quality and uses the PQASSO system as a way of evidencing this - currently the Organisation is on level 2, which it achieved in 2005.