Draft Action Plan: Learning for Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny practice in Poole from the Francis Inquiry November 2013 Recommendation in Francis Report Change in practice required Actions needed By whom By When OSC comments at review Rec. 47 The Care Quality Commission should expand its work with overview and scrutiny committees and Foundation Trust Governors as a valuable information source. Strengthen existing practice Chair and other nominated Committee Member(s) to meet on a regular basis with CQC Compliance Manager (South Region). Share minutes of Committee meetings and relevant scrutiny reports with CQC. plus other committee Member(s) Democratic Services Schedule for meetings in 2014/15 by March 2014. Discuss issues as and when they arise. Rec. 119 Learning and information from complaints: overview and scrutiny committees and Local Healthwatch should have access to detailed information about complaints, although having due regard to the requirements of patient confidentiality. Strengthen and develop existing practice Provider Trusts and NHS commissioning bodies to be asked for information on complaints annually, or( if urgent consideration is required, more frequently) for action by the committee. Continue to share information with Local Healthwatch. Co opted Member of Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee Democratic Services As appropriate to particular issues under scrutiny. Rec.147 Co-ordination of local public scrutiny bodies - guidance should be developed to promote the coordination and cooperation between Local Healthwatch, health and wellbeing boards and local government scrutiny committees. Strengthen and develop existing practice Build on existing relationships across Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole to ensure co-ordination in activity and the sharing of appropriate information; including Pan Dorset Health Scrutiny Committee, and Safeguarding Adults Board. Democratic Services supported by Service Unit Head. Continue to develop as the Health and Wellbeing Board and Local Healthwatch get established.
Rec. 149 Expert assistance: scrutiny committees should be provided with appropriate support to enable them to carry out their scrutiny role, including easily accessible guidance and benchmarks. New practice Ensure members are provided with access to relevant supporting / additional information when presented with reports / proposals from commissioners and providers to help further develop effective scrutiny. Strengthening existing training for Committee Members; to give confidence and knowledge on how to challenge information provided. Democratic Services Commencing February 2014 Rec. 150 Inspection powers: scrutiny committees should have powers to inspect providers, rather than relying on local patient involvement structures to carry out this role, or should actively work with those structures to trigger follow up inspections where appropriate, rather than receiving reports without comment or suggestions for action. Strengthen and develop existing practice Work with Local Healthwatch to develop a mutually supportive relationship which provides timely and relevant information for both bodies through the use of the Healthwatch Enter and View powers. 1.Democratic Services 1. Start discussions with Healthwatch immediately. Rec. 246 Quality accounts: The Department of Health / the NHS Commissioning Board/ regulators should ensure that provider organisations publish their annual quality accounts information in a common form to enable comparisons to be made between organisations, to include a minimum of prescribed information Strengthen and develop existing practice Consider a “task and finish” approach to scrutinising the Quality Accounts. Ensure Local Healthwatch is invited to be engaged in the scrutiny process. Ensure Quality Accounts are cross referenced with information from CQC on compliance with Quality Committee to determine approach. Democratic Services with Committee to determine approach at next meeting.