The board should be assured that ongoing engagement with, and understanding of, the safety education and training programs support, among and quality system of the organisation) other things, the competency of staff to provide safe Gaining an understanding of the workforce’s care in their clinical roles and to meet the quality attitude, perception, knowledge and use of safety objectives of the organisation, as well as ensuring and quality systems can provide information on the members of the workforce understand their safety areas where additional education, change and quality roles. management resources or improvement of the The board should ensure resources are available safety and quality system should be targeted. for training and continuing professional Feedback from members of the workforce may development and a process exists for monitoring include informal feedback through usual collegiate staff participation. and management communication processes, or Additionally, the board should ensure that board formal feedback through: members are provided with training to promote their structured analysis of de-identified information • own understanding of how to partner with gained from performance reviews consumers in their governance and leadership roles audits and surveys targeting specific • and interpret safety and quality reports and elements of the safety and quality system evaluations. organisational climate and cultural surveys • Board roles engagement in • clinicians’ Adopt an organisational orientation, • governance processes education and training system that communication with the board defines the commitment • organisation’s to education and training in safety reports on de-identified staff complaints that • and quality. includes analysis of the potential risks to the quality-management capacity. Ensure the education and training organisation’s • system is adequately resourced The board may also wish to consider using and training attendance records standardised staff surveys to measure the are maintained. attitude towards safety and quality. workforce’s Ensure mandatory orientation, • The US Department of Health and Human Service’s education, maintenance and renewal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has a of clinical competency and training series of surveys on patient safety culture.5 These requirements are in place. surveys include simple questions for hospital staff, and allow health service organisations to compare Ensure the system includes clinician • their results with other international health service training on partnering with consumers organisations through a comparative database. relevant to their role. Receive regular reports on the • Board role implementation and outcomes of Review reports of feedback from the • the system. workforce and recommendations from management. Workforce feedback (Standard 1, Item 1.13: Seeking regular feedback from the workforce to assess their level of
The board should be assured that ongoing education and training programs support, among other things, the competency of staff to provide safe care in their clinical roles and to meet the quality objectives of the organisation, as well as ensuring members of the workforce understand their safety and quality roles. The board should ensure resources are available for training and continuing professional development and a process exists for monitoring staff participation. Additionally, the board should ensure that board members are provided with training to promote their own understanding of how to partner with consumers in their governance and leadership roles and interpret safety and quality reports and evaluations. Board roles • Adopt an organisational orientation, education and training system that defines the organisation’s commitment to education and training in safety and quality. • Ensure the education and training system is adequately resourced and training attendance records are maintained. • Ensure mandatory orientation, education, maintenance and renewal of clinical competency and training requirements are in place. • Ensure the system includes clinician training on partnering with consumers relevant to their role. • Receive regular reports on the implementation and outcomes of the system. Workforce feedback (Standard 1, Item 1.13: Seeking regular feedback from the workforce to assess their level of engagement with, and understanding of, the safety and quality system of the organisation) Gaining an understanding of the workforce’s attitude, perception, knowledge and use of safety and quality systems can provide information on the areas where additional education, change management resources or improvement of the safety and quality system should be targeted. Feedback from members of the workforce may include informal feedback through usual collegiate and management communication processes, or formal feedback through: • structured analysis of de-identified information gained from performance reviews • audits and surveys targeting specific elements of the safety and quality system • organisational climate and cultural surveys • clinicians’ engagement in governance processes • communication with the board • reports on de-identified staff complaints that includes analysis of the potential risks to the organisation’s quality-management capacity. The board may also wish to consider using standardised staff surveys to measure the workforce’s attitude towards safety and quality. The US Department of Health and Human Service’s Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has a series of surveys on patient safety culture.5 These surveys include simple questions for hospital staff, and allow health service organisations to compare their results with other international health service organisations through a comparative database. Board role • Review reports of feedback from the workforce and recommendations from management.
Guide-to-the-National-Safety-and-Quality-Health-Service-Standards-for-health-service-organisation-boards.docx