We support and engage wards in a process of quality improvement via our developmental and accreditation pathways. We achieve this by publishing a set of specialised standards which wards can use as a framework to assess the quality of care provided within mental health inpatient wards, as well as be assessed against to achieve accreditation.

Both the accreditation and developmental membership assures staff, patients, carers, commissioners and regulators of the quality of the service being provided. Accreditation also provides a platform for recognition for wards and units.

We serve to identify areas of achievement and areas for improvement in individual services, through a culture of openness and enquiry.

Both the accreditation and developmental memberships have a self-review and peer-review phase.

Phase 1: Self-review

During this phase, the service will undertake a self-review, including a series of surveys for staff, patients and carers, and a health record audit.

These enable the multi-disciplinary team to review their local procedures and practices against the standards and, if necessary, to make the changes required to achieve accreditation. The self-review will take place over a three-month period. A summary of the results from the self-review forms the basis of discussions during the peer-review visit.

Phase 2: Peer-review visit

The peer-review visit is a one-day visit which takes place up to four weeks after you have completed your self-review. A team of up to three professionals (comprising of staff from other member services), a patient or carer representative, and a Network representative will undertake a peer-review visit. In addition to validating your self-review, the peer-review provides an opportunity for discussion, sharing of ideas and for the visiting team to offer advice and support.

Phase 3: Accreditation decision (accreditation membership)

Information from the self-review and peer-review is compiled into a summary report which is verified by the peer-review team and the service before being submitted to the Accreditation Committee (AC). If services are not reaching a certain threshold of Type 1 standards, they may be deferred to the developmental membership. The committee makes a decision about the service’s accreditation.

There are three categories of accreditation status:

• Accredited
• Accreditation deferred
• Not accredited

Services that cannot achieve accreditation at the point of review but are expected to be able to do so in the near future are deferred for a time-limited period in which they must meet the necessary standards. Services can be presented to the AC up to three times within a 6 month period.

Accreditation is valid for up to three years, subject to satisfactory completion of an interim self-review.

Phase 3: Local report and benchmarking (developmental membership)

Information from the self-review and peer-review is compiled into a local draft report which is verified by the peer-review team and the service. They will be given an opportunity to comment before finalising the report. All final reports will be compiled into an annual aggregated report where services can benchmark.

 The developmental membership option is ideal for services that:

• Are new to QNWA who've not had experience with the standards before.
• Need additional support to reach 'desirable' standards.
• Want to work on recommendations from a recent CQC visit.
• Want to prepare for accreditation in the future.

What's involved?

• Three-month self-review process
• Peer-review visit
• Localist report specific to your service
• Action planning
• Annual Report
  

Developmental membership is a stepping stone towards accreditation. Unlike accreditation, there is no threshold to meet; services do not need to meet a percentage of Type 1 or 2 standards. This allows services to concentrate on improving their service and gives time for more open discussions.

The accreditation membership operates as a more comprehensive process of both the self and peer review. 

This membership option is ideal for services that:

• Are familiar with the QNWA standards
• Have previously been through the developmental or accreditation process.

What's involved?

• Three-month self-review process
• Peer-review visit
• Localised report specific to your service
• Accreditation committee (AC) review for up to 6 months
• Accreditation certificate (following AC decision)
• Interim review after 18 months
• Aggregated report

Services must meet 100% of Type 1 standards and 80% of Type 2 standards in order to be awarded accreditation. Services will be accredited from their final presentation at the accreditation committee, and this will be valid for three years following a satisfactory interim review.