Aims, Guiding Principles and Process
The network aims to facilitate quality
improvement and change in forensic mental health settings through a
supportive peer-review network. The network adopts a
multi-disciplinary approach to quality improvement. Central to the
network is the value of services sharing best practice. A
fundamental principle is that of listening to and being led by
frontline staff and service users. The network serves to identify
areas for improvement through a culture of openness and enquiry
rather than inspection or blame. The model is one of engagement
rather than of inspection. Members are expected to use the
results of reviews to develop action plans to achieve year on year
improvement. They are also expected to share their results
with key groups locally, including health and local authorities,
those making referrals to their services and local user and carer
groups.
Implementation Criteria for Recommended Specification:
Adult Medium Secure Units -
The network uses an iterative cycle of self-
and peer-reviews using a set of implementation criteria based
on the DoH recommended specification (2007):
A: Safety and Security
1. Physical Security
2. Procedural Security
3. Relational Security
4. Serious and Untoward
Incidents
5. Safeguarding Children and Child
Visiting Policies
B: Clinical and costs
effectiveness
C: Governance
D: Patient focus
E: Accessible and and responsive
care
F: Care environment and
amenities
G: Public health
The network has also developed a subset of
standards and criteria aimed at addressing the needs of women in
medium secure care.
The cyclical review process:
The process used by the Quality
Network for Forensic Mental Health Services combines the clinical
audit cycle with peer-reviews. The process begins with a set
of standards being developed in consultation with member
units. Members then engage in a detailed team/service
evaluation during the self-review phase. This is followed by
a period of peer-review visits to validate the data
compiled during the self-review. After the peer-review
stage, units are provided with a local report that compiles the
data collected during the self- and peer-reviews. When all
member units have completed the peer-review phase an annual report
of the aggregated findings is written to enable benchmarking with
other services. The final stage of the process involves
action planning and attendance at the Annual Forum.
Figure 1: The Annual Cycle
Further information: