Safety, Quality and Standards

Clinical and Social Care Governance can be described as a framework through which HSC bodies are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical and social care will flourish.

The development of CSCG in the HSC is a key aspect of the Department’s quality agenda arising out of the public consultation on Best Practice Best Care.  In line with that agenda a significant programme of work is underway in the HSC to improve quality and ensure patient and client safety. A statutory duty of quality was placed on HSS Boards and HSC Trusts in 2003.

The CSCG Support Team recently completed its 4 year work programme in which it developed a range of practical products.

The decision has been taken to align the work of the Support Team with the HSC Safety Forum.  Therefore a new HSC Safety Forum will be created to support safety and quality improvement in the HSC.  This change reflects the evolving local, national and international safety and quality agenda and expands the infrastructure supporting the HSC in achieving demonstrable improvement in patient and client care.