Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack...

0 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015


Contents

Thank you for your interest in the Suffolk Information Standard and

welcome to our application pack. If you have any questions about the

content of this document or need some further information please see page

two for our contact information.

Title Page

Getting in touch 2

Introducing the Suffolk Information Standard 3

Don’t just hear it from us… 4

The Suffolk Information Partnership 6

Healthwatch Suffolk 6

The Care Act 2014 10

How to apply 11

The Criteria and Guidance Appendix 1

Application Form Appendix 2


Getting in touch…

The Healthwatch Suffolk office is based in Needham Market. If you have a question

about Healthwatch Suffolk or the contents of this application pack please do not

hesitate to contact our team. We are here to help.

Please see the table below for full details of how you can get in touch.

Contact the Healthwatch Suffolk Information Team

Telephone 01449 703949

Email [email protected]

Address

12&13 Norfolk House

Williamsport Way

Needham Market

Suffolk

IP6 8RW

Website www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk/


Introducing the Suffolk Information

Standard There are many organisations producing information about health, care and wellbeing in Suffolk. This information can vary greatly in quality and the extent to which it is up-to-date, which means that it can be confusing and time consuming for the public. To help to improve this, Healthwatch Suffolk is working with the Suffolk Information Partnership to deliver a local Standard as a part of its remit to provide information and signposting to people in Suffolk. The Suffolk Information Standard will give the public and other providers confidence in the information they receive or can access. It will mean that health and care information in the county will be reviewed regularly, accessible and up-to-date. It will also show that adequate processes are in place to ensure that standards to promote quality information are maintained. The Standard is available to all organisations producing health and care information, and there is no cost to apply for and receive the accreditation. Organisations that are accredited with the Standard are demonstrating a commitment to providing information that is based on well-founded internal processes, consistent with other information providers in the county. Once accredited your organisation will be able to demonstrate and provide evidence to service commissioners and the public that you:

Provide reliable up-to-date information and are part of an accreditation scheme

Are committed to giving trustworthy information about your services

Follow good practice by having a review procedure for your information giving.

Train staff and/or volunteers to provide quality information

Have fulfilled criteria and are eligible to display the Suffolk Information Standard logo

The Suffolk Information Standard is supported by commissioners in the county

We look forward to receiving your application.

Tony Rollo Sue Gray Chair of Healthwatch Suffolk Chairperson of the Suffolk Information Partnership


Don’t just hear it from us…

ClarkeCare Ltd – Accredited in February 2015

ClarkeCare is a provider of care and support for adults who want to remain

independent in their own homes and active in their community.

"I found the process of completing the Suffolk Information Standard

accreditation documentation an ideal way of performing a pretty

comprehensive review of my own documentation processes. Also to

consolidate my various standards and processes into an editorial

policy has been a useful improvement for my business.”

“In my industry, compliance to best practice standards is held in high

regard, now that I have achieved accreditation, it is a valuable asset I

will be using when inspected by the regulator."

Simon Curtis (ClarkeCare Ltd)

Suffolk County Council, Adult and Community Services (ACS) –

Accredited in December 2014

Adult and Community Services (ACS) work in partnership with health

services, local councils, the independent, voluntary and private sectors to

provide services and support for Suffolk residents over the age of 18.

"The experience of applying for the Suffolk Information Standard has

encouraged us to improve our processes for updating our public and

internal information and has enabled us to raise the importance of

keeping our information and procedures up to date amongst our

colleagues. We are proud to have gained the Standard."

Stephen Taylor (Development Manager for Libraries, Information

and Culture)


Suffolk Mind – Accredited in September 2014

Suffolk Mind is a charity that offers a range of services designed to help

improve the mental health and wellbeing of people across the

region. It delivers services in four core areas

“We are thrilled to be one of the first organisations to achieve the

standard and to be part of the Suffolk Information partnership. We

work hard to make sure that we deliver a consistent service and that

people can access information from us in a simple and uncomplicated

way.”

“Being able to work confidently together with other organisations

with the same standards, not only gives us greater confidence but

also greatly improves and simplifies the way that people access

information."

Carole Thain (Marketing Manager at Suffolk Mind)

Suffolk Libraries - Accredited in September 2014

Suffolk Libraries is a not for profit, independent and charitable organisation

set up in August 2012 to run all libraries in Suffolk and a number of

community library services including Mobile Libraries, the Schools Library

Service and the Home Library Service. The service is contracted by Suffolk

County Council.

"Suffolk Libraries was delighted to be one of the first organisations to

receive the Information Standard. As information is at the core of our

business we want to make sure that whichever way our customers

receive information, they are reassured that we have a robust system

in place that ensures all information is up to date and meets their

needs. The work that went into gaining accreditation is

comprehensive and we found that it has allowed us to test out our

information systems and put stronger procedures to ensure the

quality of the information we share."

David Grimmer (Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator at

Suffolk Libraries)


The Suffolk Information Partnership The Suffolk Information Partnership

was formed in 2011. It is made up of

key voluntary sector organisations in

Suffolk including:

Age UK Suffolk

Avenues East

Community Action Suffolk

Healthwatch Suffolk

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Suffolk County Council Adult

and Community Services

Suffolk Family Carers

Suffolk Libraries

Suffolk Mind

The aims of the Partnership are to

facilitate the delivery of joined up

ways of working with the voluntary

and statutory sector to provide a

range of clear, quality information for

people that enables them to make

informed choices and which improves

the experience and outcomes for

those needing to access services.

The Partnership provides a network of

equals to strategically influence local

organisations’ thinking about the

importance of effective, quality

information.

The Partnership also provides a forum

for the sharing of information and

knowledge about services. It is open

to new partners who support

customers, their family and carers

who need care and support services.

The Partnership Board meets

quarterly to discuss issues around

information provision and good

practice and also to monitor the work

priorities of the Partnership.

The Suffolk Information Standard has

been developed by the Suffolk

Information Partnership to improve

the quality of the information

received or accessed by the public.

Healthwatch Suffolk Healthwatch is the consumer

champion for health and social care

services. It exists in two distinct

forms – local Healthwatch (at local

level) and Healthwatch England (at

national level).

It is a statutory independent

organisation created on the 1st April

2013 as a direct result of the Health

and Social Care Act 2012.


Healthwatch Suffolk aims to be the

collective voice of people in Suffolk,

ensuring patients, service users and

the public are at the heart of

decision making for health and social

care services.

Healthwatch Suffolk is an

independent organisation. Its

membership consists of individuals,

community groups and organisations

throughout the county. Healthwatch

Suffolk employs a small staff team

and is also supported by a group of

volunteers.

What do we do?

Healthwatch Suffolk has functions

and powers that enable it to be the

influential and effective voice of

people in Suffolk.

Healthwatch Suffolk has a seat on

the new statutory Suffolk Health

and Wellbeing Board, ensuring

that the views and experience of

patients, carers and other service

users influence the local needs

assessments and the

development of new strategies.

Suffolk residents can share views

and concerns about local health

and social care services with us,

so that we can build up a picture

of where services are doing well

and where they can be improved.

Healthwatch Suffolk can alert

Healthwatch England (a sub-

committee of the Care Quality

Commission) to concerns about

specific care providers.

Healthwatch Suffolk will provide

and signpost people to

information about local health

and care services and how to

access them.

Healthwatch Suffolk will provide

information about local services

and what to do when things go

wrong.

Healthwatch Suffolk can help and

support service commissioners

(Clinical Commissioning Groups

and Councils) to make sure that

services are designed to meet the

needs of people in Suffolk.

Healthwatch Suffolk is committed to

being inclusive, and will reflect the

diversity of the people it serves in

Suffolk in all aspects of its work.


Why are we helping to deliver

the Suffolk Information

Standard?

In addition to our role to ensure that

the voices of service users, patients

and the public are heard in the

design, commissioning and delivery

of services, the functions of Local

Healthwatch also include provision

of an advice and information service

to the public about accessing health

and social care services as set out in

the Health & Social Care Act 2012.

We have been commissioned to

ensure that all people of Suffolk

have access to good quality,

impartial information and advice

about health and social care services

available to them. To do this, we

are committed to working with and

providing support to local

information providers and networks.

The Suffolk Information Standard,

which has been developed by the

Suffolk Information Partnership, will

enable us to achieve the above

objective. Healthwatch Suffolk and

Suffolk Information Partnership

members have worked together to

develop the assessment process and

test out a questionnaire for

organisations seeking accreditation to

complete.

The Suffolk Information Partnership

has offered the Standard to

Healthwatch Suffolk and we have

responsibility for implementing the

accreditation process. The diagram

on the following page outlines our

process of accreditation.


Decisions taken are recorded by HWS

staff

Application submitted to HWS by

organisations seeking accreditation

Office staff check the information

received and liaise with organisations

if materials or evidence are missing

Staff log receipt of the application as

a new record on the database and set

status accordingly

Applications are collated in readiness

for discussion at the Information

Standard Panel

Office team arrange meeting of the

Information Standard Panel and

provide facilitation

Enquiry made to Healthwatch Suffolk

(HWS) about the Information Standard

Any applications approved are ratified

by Healthwatch Suffolk

For those that have not reached the

standard HWS staff provide

explanation

Staff refer to relevant bodies for

advice about drafting policies and

procedures

After ratification, the database record

is changed to “Accredited”

Staff contact the organisation to

supply logo and relevant evidence of

accreditation

Office staff add the organisation to

the accredited partners on the

website with information and links

After two years, HWS staff will

contact the organisation to request a

renewal

Key

Pathway if unsuccessful

Pathway if successful

Organisation

Healthwatch Suffolk

Information Standard Accreditation Process


The Care Act 2014

The Care Act 2014 represents the

biggest reformation of care and

support in 60 years.

It takes forward the Government’s

commitments to reform social care

legislation and to drive up the quality

of care. It tells councils across

England what they need to do if

someone has social care needs and

requires support either in their own

home or in a care home.

Information and advice is a key aspect

of the Care Act that the Government

considers fundamental to the

promotion of people’s wellbeing. It

can increase a person’s ability to

exercise choice and control. It is also

a vital component of preventing or

delaying people’s need for care and

support.

Under the Care Act 2014, local

authorities are responsible for

ensuring that all adults in their area

who need information and advice

about care and support are able to

access it.

As part of this, local authorities are

expected to understand, co-ordinate

and make effective use of other

statutory, voluntary and/or private

sector information and advice

resources available to people within

their areas.

The Care Act guidance emphasises

that information and advice available

in the county should be accurate, up-

to-date and consistent with other

sources of information and advice.

Furthermore, it should be of a good

standard.

The Suffolk Information Standard is

supported by Suffolk County Council.

Accreditation will enable your

organisation to demonstrate to

commissioners that adequate

processes are in place to ensure the

above and that standards to promote

the quality of your information are

maintained.

More information about the Care Act

2014 and what it might mean for

people you support is available on the

Healthwatch Suffolk website.

Visit www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk/care-act to see our breakdown of the Care

Act 2014 and what it means for care and support in the future.

10

http://www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk/care-act


How to apply

There is no charge to apply for or be accredited with the Suffolk Information

Standard and it is open to organisations of all sizes. The accreditation process,

which consists of a two year cycle, is highlighted in the diagram on page 9.

The first step is to read the criteria and guidance information that accompanies

this information pack. This will enable you to think about your procedures and the

information you provide in preparation for completing our application form. When

you submit your application to Healthwatch Suffolk, please ensure that any

supporting evidence is clearly referenced so that the Information Panel can easily

identify the documents to which you are referring.

Applications can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by

freepost to:

Freepost RTEC-ZGLG-GYLE

Healthwatch Suffolk

12&13 Norfolk House

Williamsport Way

Needham Market

Suffolk IP6 8RW

Peer guidance ensures that there is

a little help along the way…

If you find that a little extra guidance would be useful in completing your

application for the Suffolk Information Standard then there is help on hand.

Other organisations that have been through the process will be willing to talk to

you about how they adapted their information practices to meet the requirements

of the Standard.

To request this support please contact the Healthwatch Suffolk Information Team

on 01449 703949 or by email to [email protected].

This pack includes the following supporting

documents available from our website:

Information pack

Criteria and guidance

Application form

11




Thank you for your interest in the Suffolk Information Standard - Delivered by

Healthwatch Suffolk on behalf of the Suffolk Information Partnership


The Suffolk Information Standard logo is for use only by those organisations with the

accreditation, unless permission has been sought and granted by the Healthwatch

Suffolk Information Team.

Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at

[email protected]. You can download this publication from

www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk. Hard copies are available on request.


http://www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk/

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