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0 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
1 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
Contents
Thank you for your interest in the Suffolk Information Standard and
welcome to our application pack. If you have any questions about the
content of this document or need some further information please see page
two for our contact information.
Title Page
Getting in touch 2
Introducing the Suffolk Information Standard 3
Don’t just hear it from us… 4
The Suffolk Information Partnership 6
Healthwatch Suffolk 6
The Care Act 2014 10
How to apply 11
The Criteria and Guidance Appendix 1
Application Form Appendix 2
2 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
Getting in touch…
The Healthwatch Suffolk office is based in Needham Market. If you have a question
about Healthwatch Suffolk or the contents of this application pack please do not
hesitate to contact our team. We are here to help.
Please see the table below for full details of how you can get in touch.
Contact the Healthwatch Suffolk Information Team
Telephone 01449 703949
Email [email protected]
Address
12&13 Norfolk House
Williamsport Way
Needham Market
Suffolk
IP6 8RW
Website www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk
3 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
Introducing the Suffolk Information
Standard There are many organisations producing information about health, care and wellbeing in Suffolk. This information can vary greatly in quality and the extent to which it is up-to-date, which means that it can be confusing and time consuming for the public. To help to improve this, Healthwatch Suffolk is working with the Suffolk Information Partnership to deliver a local Standard as a part of its remit to provide information and signposting to people in Suffolk. The Suffolk Information Standard will give the public and other providers confidence in the information they receive or can access. It will mean that health and care information in the county will be reviewed regularly, accessible and up-to-date. It will also show that adequate processes are in place to ensure that standards to promote quality information are maintained. The Standard is available to all organisations producing health and care information, and there is no cost to apply for and receive the accreditation. Organisations that are accredited with the Standard are demonstrating a commitment to providing information that is based on well-founded internal processes, consistent with other information providers in the county. Once accredited your organisation will be able to demonstrate and provide evidence to service commissioners and the public that you:
Provide reliable up-to-date information and are part of an accreditation scheme
Are committed to giving trustworthy information about your services
Follow good practice by having a review procedure for your information giving.
Train staff and/or volunteers to provide quality information
Have fulfilled criteria and are eligible to display the Suffolk Information Standard logo
The Suffolk Information Standard is supported by commissioners in the county
We look forward to receiving your application.
Tony Rollo Sue Gray Chair of Healthwatch Suffolk Chairperson of the Suffolk Information Partnership
4 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
Don’t just hear it from us…
ClarkeCare Ltd – Accredited in February 2015
ClarkeCare is a provider of care and support for adults who want to remain
independent in their own homes and active in their community.
"I found the process of completing the Suffolk Information Standard
accreditation documentation an ideal way of performing a pretty
comprehensive review of my own documentation processes. Also to
consolidate my various standards and processes into an editorial
policy has been a useful improvement for my business.”
“In my industry, compliance to best practice standards is held in high
regard, now that I have achieved accreditation, it is a valuable asset I
will be using when inspected by the regulator."
Simon Curtis (ClarkeCare Ltd)
Suffolk County Council, Adult and Community Services (ACS) –
Accredited in December 2014
Adult and Community Services (ACS) work in partnership with health
services, local councils, the independent, voluntary and private sectors to
provide services and support for Suffolk residents over the age of 18.
"The experience of applying for the Suffolk Information Standard has
encouraged us to improve our processes for updating our public and
internal information and has enabled us to raise the importance of
keeping our information and procedures up to date amongst our
colleagues. We are proud to have gained the Standard."
Stephen Taylor (Development Manager for Libraries, Information
and Culture)
5 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
Suffolk Mind – Accredited in September 2014
Suffolk Mind is a charity that offers a range of services designed to help
improve the mental health and wellbeing of people across the
region. It delivers services in four core areas
“We are thrilled to be one of the first organisations to achieve the
standard and to be part of the Suffolk Information partnership. We
work hard to make sure that we deliver a consistent service and that
people can access information from us in a simple and uncomplicated
way.”
“Being able to work confidently together with other organisations
with the same standards, not only gives us greater confidence but
also greatly improves and simplifies the way that people access
information."
Carole Thain (Marketing Manager at Suffolk Mind)
Suffolk Libraries - Accredited in September 2014
Suffolk Libraries is a not for profit, independent and charitable organisation
set up in August 2012 to run all libraries in Suffolk and a number of
community library services including Mobile Libraries, the Schools Library
Service and the Home Library Service. The service is contracted by Suffolk
County Council.
"Suffolk Libraries was delighted to be one of the first organisations to
receive the Information Standard. As information is at the core of our
business we want to make sure that whichever way our customers
receive information, they are reassured that we have a robust system
in place that ensures all information is up to date and meets their
needs. The work that went into gaining accreditation is
comprehensive and we found that it has allowed us to test out our
information systems and put stronger procedures to ensure the
quality of the information we share."
David Grimmer (Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator at
Suffolk Libraries)
6 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
The Suffolk Information Partnership The Suffolk Information Partnership
was formed in 2011. It is made up of
key voluntary sector organisations in
Suffolk including:
Age UK Suffolk
Avenues East
Community Action Suffolk
Healthwatch Suffolk
Clinical Commissioning Groups
Suffolk County Council Adult
and Community Services
Suffolk Family Carers
Suffolk Libraries
Suffolk Mind
The aims of the Partnership are to
facilitate the delivery of joined up
ways of working with the voluntary
and statutory sector to provide a
range of clear, quality information for
people that enables them to make
informed choices and which improves
the experience and outcomes for
those needing to access services.
The Partnership provides a network of
equals to strategically influence local
organisations’ thinking about the
importance of effective, quality
information.
The Partnership also provides a forum
for the sharing of information and
knowledge about services. It is open
to new partners who support
customers, their family and carers
who need care and support services.
The Partnership Board meets
quarterly to discuss issues around
information provision and good
practice and also to monitor the work
priorities of the Partnership.
The Suffolk Information Standard has
been developed by the Suffolk
Information Partnership to improve
the quality of the information
received or accessed by the public.
Healthwatch Suffolk Healthwatch is the consumer
champion for health and social care
services. It exists in two distinct
forms – local Healthwatch (at local
level) and Healthwatch England (at
national level).
It is a statutory independent
organisation created on the 1st April
2013 as a direct result of the Health
and Social Care Act 2012.
7 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
Healthwatch Suffolk aims to be the
collective voice of people in Suffolk,
ensuring patients, service users and
the public are at the heart of
decision making for health and social
care services.
Healthwatch Suffolk is an
independent organisation. Its
membership consists of individuals,
community groups and organisations
throughout the county. Healthwatch
Suffolk employs a small staff team
and is also supported by a group of
volunteers.
What do we do?
Healthwatch Suffolk has functions
and powers that enable it to be the
influential and effective voice of
people in Suffolk.
Healthwatch Suffolk has a seat on
the new statutory Suffolk Health
and Wellbeing Board, ensuring
that the views and experience of
patients, carers and other service
users influence the local needs
assessments and the
development of new strategies.
Suffolk residents can share views
and concerns about local health
and social care services with us,
so that we can build up a picture
of where services are doing well
and where they can be improved.
Healthwatch Suffolk can alert
Healthwatch England (a sub-
committee of the Care Quality
Commission) to concerns about
specific care providers.
Healthwatch Suffolk will provide
and signpost people to
information about local health
and care services and how to
access them.
Healthwatch Suffolk will provide
information about local services
and what to do when things go
wrong.
Healthwatch Suffolk can help and
support service commissioners
(Clinical Commissioning Groups
and Councils) to make sure that
services are designed to meet the
needs of people in Suffolk.
Healthwatch Suffolk is committed to
being inclusive, and will reflect the
diversity of the people it serves in
Suffolk in all aspects of its work.
7 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
Why are we helping to deliver
the Suffolk Information
Standard?
In addition to our role to ensure that
the voices of service users, patients
and the public are heard in the
design, commissioning and delivery
of services, the functions of Local
Healthwatch also include provision
of an advice and information service
to the public about accessing health
and social care services as set out in
the Health & Social Care Act 2012.
We have been commissioned to
ensure that all people of Suffolk
have access to good quality,
impartial information and advice
about health and social care services
available to them. To do this, we
are committed to working with and
providing support to local
information providers and networks.
The Suffolk Information Standard,
which has been developed by the
Suffolk Information Partnership, will
enable us to achieve the above
objective. Healthwatch Suffolk and
Suffolk Information Partnership
members have worked together to
develop the assessment process and
test out a questionnaire for
organisations seeking accreditation to
complete.
The Suffolk Information Partnership
has offered the Standard to
Healthwatch Suffolk and we have
responsibility for implementing the
accreditation process. The diagram
on the following page outlines our
process of accreditation.
9 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
Decisions taken are recorded by HWS
staff
Application submitted to HWS by
organisations seeking accreditation
Office staff check the information
received and liaise with organisations
if materials or evidence are missing
Staff log receipt of the application as
a new record on the database and set
status accordingly
Applications are collated in readiness
for discussion at the Information
Standard Panel
Office team arrange meeting of the
Information Standard Panel and
provide facilitation
Enquiry made to Healthwatch Suffolk
(HWS) about the Information Standard
Any applications approved are ratified
by Healthwatch Suffolk
For those that have not reached the
standard HWS staff provide
explanation
Staff refer to relevant bodies for
advice about drafting policies and
procedures
After ratification, the database record
is changed to “Accredited”
Staff contact the organisation to
supply logo and relevant evidence of
accreditation
Office staff add the organisation to
the accredited partners on the
website with information and links
After two years, HWS staff will
contact the organisation to request a
renewal
Key
Pathway if unsuccessful
Pathway if successful
Organisation
Healthwatch Suffolk
Information Standard Accreditation Process
10 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
The Care Act 2014
The Care Act 2014 represents the
biggest reformation of care and
support in 60 years.
It takes forward the Government’s
commitments to reform social care
legislation and to drive up the quality
of care. It tells councils across
England what they need to do if
someone has social care needs and
requires support either in their own
home or in a care home.
Information and advice is a key aspect
of the Care Act that the Government
considers fundamental to the
promotion of people’s wellbeing. It
can increase a person’s ability to
exercise choice and control. It is also
a vital component of preventing or
delaying people’s need for care and
support.
Under the Care Act 2014, local
authorities are responsible for
ensuring that all adults in their area
who need information and advice
about care and support are able to
access it.
As part of this, local authorities are
expected to understand, co-ordinate
and make effective use of other
statutory, voluntary and/or private
sector information and advice
resources available to people within
their areas.
The Care Act guidance emphasises
that information and advice available
in the county should be accurate, up-
to-date and consistent with other
sources of information and advice.
Furthermore, it should be of a good
standard.
The Suffolk Information Standard is
supported by Suffolk County Council.
Accreditation will enable your
organisation to demonstrate to
commissioners that adequate
processes are in place to ensure the
above and that standards to promote
the quality of your information are
maintained.
More information about the Care Act
2014 and what it might mean for
people you support is available on the
Healthwatch Suffolk website.
Visit www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk/care-act to see our breakdown of the Care
Act 2014 and what it means for care and support in the future.
10
11 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
How to apply
There is no charge to apply for or be accredited with the Suffolk Information
Standard and it is open to organisations of all sizes. The accreditation process,
which consists of a two year cycle, is highlighted in the diagram on page 9.
The first step is to read the criteria and guidance information that accompanies
this information pack. This will enable you to think about your procedures and the
information you provide in preparation for completing our application form. When
you submit your application to Healthwatch Suffolk, please ensure that any
supporting evidence is clearly referenced so that the Information Panel can easily
identify the documents to which you are referring.
Applications can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by
freepost to:
Freepost RTEC-ZGLG-GYLE
Healthwatch Suffolk
12&13 Norfolk House
Williamsport Way
Needham Market
Suffolk IP6 8RW
Peer guidance ensures that there is
a little help along the way…
If you find that a little extra guidance would be useful in completing your
application for the Suffolk Information Standard then there is help on hand.
Other organisations that have been through the process will be willing to talk to
you about how they adapted their information practices to meet the requirements
of the Standard.
To request this support please contact the Healthwatch Suffolk Information Team
on 01449 703949 or by email to [email protected].
This pack includes the following supporting
documents available from our website:
Information pack
Criteria and guidance
Application form
11
7 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
Thank you for your interest in the Suffolk Information Standard - Delivered by
Healthwatch Suffolk on behalf of the Suffolk Information Partnership
7 Suffolk Information Standard Application Pack 2015
The Suffolk Information Standard logo is for use only by those organisations with the
accreditation, unless permission has been sought and granted by the Healthwatch
Suffolk Information Team.
Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at
[email protected]. You can download this publication from
www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk. Hard copies are available on request.