A quality framework for nurse agencies

The primary purpose of this quality framework is to support services to evaluate their own performance.  It is then used by inspectors to provide independent assurance about the quality of care and support.  By setting out what we expect to see in a high-quality service, we can also help support improvement. 

We have also produced a set of self-evaluation tools to support services to assess how well they are doing against key areas from our quality framework and highlight  where they need to support improved outcomes for people.

• Quality framework for nurse agencies
• Self-evaluation tools and guidance for nurse agencies

Within the framework we have included a scrutiny toolbox, which provides examples of the scrutiny actions we may use in evaluating the quality of provision.  The resources below are key practice documents that we think will help care services in their own improvement journey.  These are listed under each relevant key question.

Key question 1. How well do we support people’s wellbeing?

 

Quality indicator 1.1 People’s rights are promoted and respected

Key improvement resources

The Health and Social Care Standards  Mental Welfare Commission resources   World Health Organisation – Quality rights: Promoting the rights of people with mental health conditions, psychosocial, intellectual, and cognitive disabilities  Scottish Human Rights Commission:  Good practice guide  Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)  Raising concerns: Guidance for nurses, midwives and nursing associates  The Keys to Life    Autism strategy for Scotland   Mental Welfare Commission guidance:   – personal plans  – advance statements  – power of attorney   – supported decision making  Publications | Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (mwcscot.org.uk)

Quality indicator 1.2 People’s health and wellbeing benefits from their care and support.

Autism strategy for Scotland   Clinical guidance for care at home, housing support and sheltered housing  Dementia learning and promoting excellence   Essentials of safe care    General standards for neurological care and support  Guide for providers on personal planning  Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Guidance on anticipatory care planning    Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Infection prevention and control standards  Mental Welfare Commission guidance:   – personal plans  – advance statements  – power of attorney   – supported decision making  National infection prevention and control manual (NICPM)  Notifications about controlled drugs: Guidance for providers (2015)   Pocket book for use in social care: Preventing Infection in Social Care Settings (including community, care home and homely settings)  Principles for nurse agencies  Professional guidance on the administration of medicines in healthcare settings  Professional guidance on the safe and secure handling of medicines  Prompting, assisting and administration of medication  Public Health Scotland:  Health and Social Care Guidance  Public Health Scotland: COVID-19: Information and guidance for social, community and residential care settings  Record keeping  Resources on the management of medication  The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates  The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Zone and SIPCEP foundation layer   Trauma informed practice – National trauma training plan and resources

Key question 2. How good is our leadership and staffing?

Quality indicator 2.1. Safer recruitment principles, vision and values positively inform practice.

Code of practice for international recruitment  Guidance for providers and applicants on aims and objectives   Health and social care integrated workforce plan  Health and social care national workforce strategy  National Safer Recruitment Guidance   NMC guidance for employers  Scottish Code of Practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel  TURAS Leadership and Management Programmes  Values based recruitment

Quality indicator 2.2. Quality assurance and improvement is led well.

Care Experience Improvement Model (CEIM)   Clinical and care governance framework  General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidance  Guidance on development of policy and procedure  Guidance on the registration of nurse agencies Healthy workplace toolkit for nurse agencies  Information Commissioner’s guide to data protection, including GDPR    Managing concerns and making referrals  NMC employers guide to managing concerns  Professional indemnity guidance  Records that all registered care services (except childminding) must keep and guidance on notification reporting  TURAS Leadership and Management Programmes

Quality indicator 2.3. Staff have the right skills and are confident and competent.

Advice for agency workers, including training and revalidation information  Clinical supervision resource  NMC code of practice  NMC standards of proficiency for registered nurses