General principles be taken into account, these are reflected in the Scores should be based on the conditions seen detailed guidance. Other than this, no at the time of the assessment. It is the sites/ allowances should be made for the particular to provide a clean challenges that may face specific units. Such organisations’ responsibility environment at all times, and therefore no difficulties are not an excuse for less-than- allowance should be made for such things as acceptable standards, even if this means that the weather, building works or the next the highest scores cannot be achieved. scheduled cleaning, except for those items that Over- or under-scoring benefits no-one as it are subject to scheduled but infrequent presents a false picture of the standards being cleaning/maintenance. provided. If organisations are to be able to The assessment should not be made against continuously improve, they need to understand how well a site/organisation is doing with what it their current position. has, but how well it is doing against the defined The results of the assessments are shared with criteria and guidance. No allowance should be the Care Quality Commission, who use the made for shortcomings that are the product of information in their monitoring of provider infrastructural obstacles age/design etc. – compliance with the essential standards of as it can be in the Something being ‘as good quality and safety, and to inform inspection of is not sufficient reason to award circumstances’ relevant standards. Other organisations (for a high score. If there are investment or example NHS England, or the National Institute management implications for the organisation for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)) may as a result, this is a matter for the trust/ also use the data in support of their own organisation to address. objectives. The PLACE assessment form applies to all The PLACE process requires organisations to types of hospitals, hospices and independent respond formally to their assessments and treatment centres. Where there are recognised develop a plan for improvement. differences/special considerations that should
General principles Scores should be based on the conditions seen at the time of the assessment. It is the sites/ organisations’ responsibility to provide a clean environment at all times, and therefore no allowance should be made for such things as the weather, building works or the next scheduled cleaning, except for those items that are subject to scheduled but infrequent cleaning/maintenance. The assessment should not be made against how well a site/organisation is doing with what it has, but how well it is doing against the defined criteria and guidance. No allowance should be made for shortcomings that are the product of infrastructural obstacles – age/design etc. Something being ‘as good as it can be in the circumstances’ is not sufficient reason to award a high score. If there are investment or management implications for the organisation as a result, this is a matter for the trust/ organisation to address. The PLACE assessment form applies to all types of hospitals, hospices and independent treatment centres. Where there are recognised differences/special considerations that should be taken into account, these are reflected in the detailed guidance. Other than this, no allowances should be made for the particular challenges that may face specific units. Such difficulties are not an excuse for less-than- acceptable standards, even if this means that the highest scores cannot be achieved. Over- or under-scoring benefits no-one as it presents a false picture of the standards being provided. If organisations are to be able to continuously improve, they need to understand their current position. The results of the assessments are shared with the Care Quality Commission, who use the information in their monitoring of provider compliance with the essential standards of quality and safety, and to inform inspection of relevant standards. Other organisations (for example NHS England, or the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)) may also use the data in support of their own objectives. The PLACE process requires organisations to respond formally to their assessments and develop a plan for improvement.
place-org-condct-assess-jan15.docx