| *** NOW RECRUITING FOR AIMS-PICU and
AIMS-LD ***
> We are now accepting Joining
Forms for a new version of AIMS for psychiatric
intensive care units - AIMS-PICU - for
commencement in spring 2010. We have been working in
partnership with the National Association of Psychiatric Intensive
Care Units and Low Secure Units* (NAPICU) to develop
the
AIMS-PICU Standards.
* Please note that
membership of AIMS-PICU is currently only
open to psychiatric
intensive care units - NOT low secure units *
> Following a successful development programme,
we are also now accepting Joining
Forms from inpatient learning disability services
wishing to join AIMS-LD. For more
information, including details of which services are eligible to
join, please visit the AIMS-LD
web page.
Completed forms for either of the above can be returned to us
by fax (020 7481 4831) or by post to the address below.
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*** DATA SUBMISSION ***
If you are already a member of AIMS, you can securely submit your
audit data and questionnaire responses via the links below.
Please use the AIMS-WA-Data link if
you are a working-age adult admission ward, use the AIMS-AT-Data
link if you are an assessment/triage ward, use the
AIMS-OP-Data link if you are a ward for older people and use the
AIMS-PICU-Data link if you are a psychiatric intensive care
unit.
You will need to know the correct
Username and Password. Please contact us if you do not know
these, or you have any other queries about using the data
collection tools: AIMS@cru.rcpsych.ac.uk.
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Inpatient mental health services
can be challenging environments for staff and
patients. Accreditation for Inpatient Mental
Health Services (AIMS) is an initiative from the
Royal College of Psychiatrists' Centre for Quality Improvement
which identifies and acknowledges services that have high
standards of organisation and patient care, and supports and
enables others to achieve these.
There are
currently five versions of AIMS. For
each version, you can download a copy of the relevant Joining Form
and standards document below:
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- AIMS-WA for
working-age adult admission wards
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- AIMS-AT for
assessment/triage wards
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- AIMS-OP for wards for
older people
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- AIMS-PICU for psychiatric
intensive care units
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- AIMS-LD for
inpatient learning disability services
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Completed Joining Forms can be
returned to us by fax (020 7481 4831) or by post to the address
below.
Other Key Documents
Additional Documents
- Members
- Details of all services that are members of AIMS, together with
their current accreditation status (last updated 3/11/09)
Contact Details
for the AIMS Project Team
Joanne
Cresswell
Programme
Manager/Nurse Advisor
Tel: 020 7977 4994
Fax: 020 7481 4831
Email: jcresswell@cru.rcpsych.ac.uk
Royal College of
Psychiatrists' Centre for Quality Improvement
4th Floor, Standon House
21 Mansell Street
London E1 8AA
AIMS@cru.rcpsych.ac.uk
The AIMS Accreditation Process
The AIMS accreditation
process incorporates elements that research has demonstrated to be
effective in bringing about quality improvement. It gives
encouragement to identify and prioritise problems and set
achievable targets for change. Membership of AIMS can help
wards meet the Healthcare Commission’s Standards for Better Health
and to conform to NICE guidelines and National Service
Frameworks.
Member services are
supported through a 12-month review process that incorporates:
- self-review, including carer, patient and staff
questionnaires;
- a one day peer-review visit;
- a recommendation of accreditation status by the AIMS
Accreditation Advisory Committee;
- ratification of accreditation status by the Royal College of
Psychiatrists' Education, Training and Standards Committee.
Accreditation is valid
for up to four years, subject to satisfactory completion of an
annual self-review.
Key Principles
Credible and
comprehensive
AIMS is working in
partnership with the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal
College of Nursing, the British Psychological Society, the College
of Occupational Therapists and (for AIMS-PICU) the National
Association of Psychiatric Intensive Care Units and Low Secure
Units. The AIMS standards are drawn from a wide range of
authoritative sources, and cover all aspects of the inpatient
journey.
Engaging stakeholders
The processes of self-
and peer-review engage all staff, patients and their carers.
Stakeholders work together to improve standards.
Developmental
Services that do not meet
accreditation standards are given advice and supported with action
planning. Those that do are encouraged to aspire towards
excellence.
Benefits of Joining AIMS
- Allows achievements of staff to be recognised.
- Provides detailed advice and support about areas in need of
improvement.
- Helps prepare for external regulation for bodies such as the
Care Quality Commission.
- Maintains a national network to improve communication.
- Provides opportunities to visit other services and share ideas
and suggestions.
- Email discussion group.
- Newsletter.
- Quality assured service for patients.