The Royal College of Psychiatrists IFQO initiative was led by Dr Martin Elphick in the role of Specialist Advisor from 2008-2010.

Statement of Principles

A consensus statement was drawn up by a working party, with consultation from the divisions (including all jurisdictions) and faculties. The statement was agreed by the Policy Committee and College Officers and had general applicability. It was accompanied by a series of plainly written questions and answers on informatics, funding mechanisms, quality, and outcome measures. A central theme was the principle that information on quality must be configured so that it can be applied to funding streams and vice versa.

Dissemination and training

The Statement of Principles and Question and Answer document was distributed in hard copy and on IFQO webpages on the College website. Updates on national development were posted during 2008 and 2009, until the complexity of the national implementation programme in the four jurisdictions made that impractical.

Dr Martin Elphick carried out a series of about 20 talks during 2009 to psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

Collaboration and liaison

Throughout the initiative a major part of the work has sprung from attendance at several meetings, whose work could thereby be linked (with varying success) to each others as well as to “the college”. The regular meetings were as follows (not in any particular order):

On informatics

The “Pan-Programme Group” (of the National Programme for Information Technology (NPfIT for England). That is to become the “Mental Health Informatics Taskforce”, which will work with the Mental Health Informatics Board (A small strategic DH group at policy level).

This will set both the direction and much of the detail for national information including datasets, clinical record structure, clinical teams, classifications etc.

On Payment by Results

The MH PBR Expert Reference Group (‘ERG’)

The MH PBR Product Review Group (‘PRG’) - now the over-arching group for the MH national programme, with several sub groups on subjects like costings, the clustering tool, learning disabilities, forensic, CAMHS, transition protocols, etc.

The PBR Clinical Advisory Panel - this is the top-level panel for clinical input across the NHS, including all the Royal Colleges etc, it considers issues from a strategic point of view.

Quality, etc

The NHS Medical Director ( Sir Bruce Keogh’s)  ‘Professional Bodies Meeting’ has been discussing programmes like QIPP etc. Very good networking opportunities.

College structure and organisation

Reporting has been through the Policy Committee and the Registrar. A relatively informal network for those in roles associated with the national PBR programme has been in operation. There is no IFQO working group. Future organisation and support for members involved in these areas is to be included in the scope of the President’s initiative on Quality

M Elphick 02.07.10