Clinical Governance
Definition
Clinical Governance is a 'framework through which NHS organisations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish'.
Components of Clinical Governance
- Clinical Audit (Clinical effectiveness)
- Risk Management
- Research and evidence based practice
- Professional self regulation
- Continuous professional development
- Consumer feedback
- Leadership development
Principles of Clinical Governance
- Protecting patients
- Developing people
- Developing teams and systems
Some local Clinical Governance achievements:
Production of a Healthcare Assistant Code of Conduct, which identifies the standards of behaviour and attitudes that are required from all Healthcare Assistants who work within the Mental Health Service.
Implementation of the Care Programme Approach (CPA) - a way of organising care for people with mental health problems. This means that there is now a requirement that every service user open to the Mental Health Service will have an individual care plan and risk management plan, which they have been involved in developing, and which is based on a thorough assessment of their health and social care needs.
The development of a system for collecting comments, compliments and suggestions. These are received by the Service Users' Network (SUN).
The development of a robust system for recording and reporting incidents and accidents.
A robust policy development system.
The development of a Clinical Management Forum, where complex issues can be debated and discussed.
The introduction of HoNOS (Health of the Nation Outcome Scales).
Accreditation with the following bodies:
- Investor in People (Bronze)
- British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS)
- Memory Services National Accreditation Programme
- Accreditation for Acute Inpatient Mental Health Services (AIMS)
