The work of the College Centre for Quality
Improvement (CCQI) has created a new and enhanced role for
clinicians and their professional bodies in raising standards.
Its national initiatives engage directly with clinicians,
managers and service users and support them to take
responsibility for improving local mental health
services. More than 90% of mental health services in the UK
participate in the work of the CCQI.
The CCQI:
- sets standards for the organisation and delivery of mental
health services;
- engages with front-line staff and supports them to
measure their own service against these standards;
- recognises local achievement, including by offering
accreditation, and identifies areas for improvement;
- works with local teams to develop and implement plans for
service improvement;
- works actively with other professional bodies, so that staff of
all disciplines are engaged in the work;
- works in partnership with service users and carers, and
encourages local mental health services to do the same;
- works with both NHS and independent sector services in the UK
(there is increasing interest from services in other
countries);
- encourages mental healthcare staff from different services to
support each other and share good ideas through peer-review,
newsletters, email discussion groups, and workshops.