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Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published the first menu of potential indicators for the 2010/11 Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) together with recommendations on indicators to be considered for retirement. NHS Employers, on behalf of the UK Health Departments will now consult the British Medical Association (BMA) on which indicators should be introduced for the 2010/11 QOF.
Each indicator is accompanied by a suite of supporting information which provides further information on why the clinical indicator was put forward for consideration by the negotiators for next year’s framework and the potential benefits ‘incentivisation’ in this area of healthcare will bring, not just to primary care, but across the NHS.
DH: A new interactive website to help parents & carers keep their babies healthy, happy & safe is being rolled out nationally by the Department of Health. NHS Baby LifeCheck is designed to provide information & advice to mums, dads and carers of babies aged five to eight months.
It guides parents & carers through a set of simple multiple choice questions, then offers advice & reassurance on making the best decisions for their child. It covers topics including: development, talking & playing, feeding, healthy teeth, safety, sleep routine, immunisations and being a parent.
Press release ~ NHS Baby LifeCheck ~ NHS LifeChecks ~ Netmums ~ Contact a Family ~ Parentline Plus ~ Pregnancy Care Planner ~ DH – Maternity and early years
Newswire – AC: The Audit Commission has launched a new risk management diagnostic tool for use (by its auditors) across all sectors, which focuses on risk leadership, partnership risk management and risk related outcomes. 'Risk it to make it' is based on tried & tested frameworks devised by HM Treasury and contains information on what represents excellent & strongly improving performance through integrated risk management.
This new tool enables an organisation or partnership to:
* know how well its risk management arrangements are working
* improve integrating risk management with its corporate business processes
* target improvement action especially on risk leadership & outcomes
Press release ~ AC - Good governance ~ For further information contact; Gareth Kelly, Audit Manager & National External Lead on Risk Management Tel: 0844 798 4757 | email: g-kelly@audit-commission.gov.uk ~ Risk, responsibility and regulation. Whose risk is it anyway? ~ Risk and Regulation Advisory Council (RRAC)
NA: The National Archives has launched an innovative online tool to point researchers directly to the historical resources they are looking for. Known as 'research signposts, the first set of guides - 'Looking for records of a person?' - simplify the process of researching an individual's history by drawing together all useful research resources in one place. The signposts indicate whether the information being researched exists, and where to find it - be it online, as original documents or from external sources.
Complementing the research signposts are a series of 2 minute animated guides, collectively entitled 'Understand the archives in minutes'. These have been designed to develop researchers' skills so they can explore the archives more effectively.
CQC: The Care Quality Commission have developed advice for care providers during the swine flu pandemic. Health & adult social care regulations continue to apply during a flu pandemic, unless otherwise announced by the Department of Health. This situation is being kept under review and may change. Please refer to the National Pandemic Flu Service for all the latest information and advice on swine flu.
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has published a new range of resources to enable young people to learn essential food-related skills & knowledge. Food route: a journey through food' is a range of colourful age-appropriate workbooks designed & developed to bring the Agency's food competences to life. The materials are supported by teachers' user guides & downloadable certificates, which can be awarded on completion of the various activities.
The primary school resources deliver learning around a healthy balanced diet, being safe in the kitchen, carrying out basic cooking skills, such as peeling, slicing & mixing, as well as teaching children about food labelling and where their food comes from.
The secondary school workbooks contain activities for young people looking at the Agency's '8 tips for eating well', being a healthy weight, preventing cross-contamination, understanding storage instructions on food labels, factors affecting our food choices (including the influence of advertising) and how to make recipes healthier when they cook.
Press release ~
WAG: Health Minister Edwina Hart has visited Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny to see how new standards on nutrition are being implemented to improve patient care. The standards have been developed by the Welsh Assembly Government following an expert report on enhancing the role of hospital ward sisters and improving the patient’s experience in hospitals. The group said nutrition should be elevated to the same importance as medication due to its role in patient recovery.
New resources – the All Wales Food Record chart and a revised Intake and Output fluid balance chart – are being introduced to provide clear standards & guidance on nutrition in hospitals. This supports the work of nutritional risk screening, which involves monitoring food & fluid intake and output, protecting mealtimes to maximise the opportunity for nutritional intake and addressing the risk of malnutrition in vulnerable patients.
The new tools for staff have been trialed in 5 NHS Trusts and will now be rolled out across Wales. An ‘e-Learning’ package is being developed and will be available by the end of the year to complement the new resources for healthcare staff which will be integrated into the NHS core training for nurses.
Press release ~ WAG - Health and social care ~ CMO(2009)08,CNO(2009)05: All Wales food record chart and nutritional care pathway ~Free to Lead, Free to care
OGC: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC), in conjunction with its delivery partner Partnerships UK, has published an enhanced version (V2.3) of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Model Services Agreement and Guidance for major or complex ICT enabled business change projects. The free-to-use solution includes significant updates in the key areas of financial distress & security management.
The model contract aims to help achieve better outcomes for projects with complex ICT procurements, while at the same time saving time & money. Users of previous versions have reported a positive delivery benefit, including a reduction in negotiation time.
Press release ~ ICT Model Services Agreement and Guidance (V2.3) (you will need to register) ~ Intellect
FSA: The sixth of a series of guides for the food industry has been published. The retail guide (produced by the retail trade & other working groups) sets out recommendations that will help retailers meet the legal obligations to ensure food safety. The guide is recognised by the Food Standards Agency.
The main aim is to provide easy to understand & practicable advice on the best ways of complying with the requirements in both Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 and national legislation. The guide will assist with applying a food safety management system based on the principles of HACCP.
Press release ~ HACCP ~ Food Industry Guide to Good Hygiene Practice: Retail ~ Good hygiene practice for industry ~ Food hygiene: a guide for businesses ~ Safer food, better business
Newswire – HCA: Online guidance to help local authorities & developers establish the economic viability of housing and mixed-use regeneration schemes has been updated & re-issued, by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) – See ‘In the News’ section for more information.
