Wales Concordat Cymru

The Wales Concordat Report on Implementation Progess was published on 30th November 2007. The report details progress that signatories have made against the milestones that were published in June 2006.

Concordat Between Bodies Inspecting, Regulating or Auditing Health and Social Care in Wales

On 12th May 2005 the Welsh Assembly Government published the Concordat between Bodies Inspecting, Regulating and Auditing Health and Social Care in Wales. This document sets out 10 objectives for identifying and implementing actions to support the improvement of health and social care services for the public, and to reduce the burden of inspection programmes on front line staff. An Implementation Plan that sets out how these objectives will be achieved was published in December 2005.

The Wales Concordat currently has ten main signatories and six associate signatories. Main signatories are review bodies that inspect, regulate or audit health and social care services while associate signatories support the objectives and practices of the Concordat but do not directly carry out review activities themselves.

HIW is taking the lead on the implementation of the Wales Concordat in healthcare and has developed, or is currently developing, tools to assist signatories in implementing the Concordat, including:

1. Dedicated Concordat Web-site (www.walesconcordat.org.uk)

The Web-site provides background information to the Concordat and links to tools that have been designed to assist signatories in meeting their compliance with the Concordat. The site also contains information and advice for organisations that wish to become new signatories to the Concordat.

2. Scheduling Tool

The Concordat Scheduling Tool is an on-line tool that is used to co-ordinate review activity and share information between signatory bodies. The Tool was launched in October 2006, and can be accessed from the front page of the Concordat Web-site. It has a tiered-password protection that enables review bodies to share information on unannounced activity and confidential reports. Information that is in the public domain can also be accessed from the tool by service providers or members of the public. An E-mail alert system enables users to register for alerts against selected organisations that they will receive if there is any new or updated review activity entered for them.

A review of the Scheduling Tool commenced in June 2007 and will focus on improving the functionality of the software and use of the system. A Scheduling Tool User Group is also being established that brings together Scheduling Tool users from different signatory bodies with a view to improving the quality and completeness of information entered.

3. Integrated Risk Assessment Framework

The development and use of an Integrated Risk Assessment Framework for the inspection of health services in Wales will assist signatories in ensuring that their reviews are targeted and proportionate.

A Task and Finish Group has been established to develop the Framework and have begun their work by mapping current risk assessment processes across a number of organisations both inside and outside the Concordat. The Framework will take account of risk assessment that is currently undertaken by local authority services as part of the Wales Programme for Improvement and that which is used by NHS trusts and private and voluntary healthcare providers as part of their internal audit processes.

4. Information Sharing Systems

One of the ways that the Concordat can assist signatories in eliminating any unnecessary burdens on healthcare services resulting from reviews is to develop better information sharing processes. By developing more intelligent use of information it should be possible to avoid duplicative requests for information from service providers/ commissioners.

To address this issue a Task and Finish Group has been established to develop an on-line catalogue of health and social care databases. There are also plans to develop an Impact Assessment Tool to be used by signatories prior to making any new information requests of service providers/ commissioners. A protocol will be developed that will guide signatories in their use of the on-line catalogue and the Impact Assessment Tool.

5. National Occupational Standards for the Inspection of Public Services

The Wales Concordat supported the development of National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the Inspection of Public Services, which was led by Skills for Justice. A consultation workshop on the draft NOS was held in Cardiff in October 2006 that was well attended by a wide range of representatives from review bodies, service providers and Assembly Government Officials.

The final NOS are awaiting approval from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and will be available from the NOS directory: www.ukstandards.org. The NOS will be useful for review bodies for a number of purposes, including, annual appraisal, job descriptions and workforce planning.

6. Seminars for Signatory Staff

A series of seminars for staff in signatory organisations is being held on a variety of topics to assist signatories in developing a consistent approach to inspection of new or amended policy or legislation. The first seminar was held on 29^th March 2007 on the Mental Capacity Act, which was well attended by a cross-section of staff from different signatory bodies and received good evaluation. Further seminars are planned for later in the summer.

The Concordat for England was published by the Healthcare Commission on 24th June 2004 and was accompanied by a supporting document Making a Difference, which sets out early progress in co-ordinating inspection in health services in England.

Last updated: 05/11/2009