Governance Validation Framework (GVF)

The Governance Validation Framework (GVF) is a quality assurance initiative which provides assurances to Council and promotes quality improvement practices within licensed CPG providers. PHECC has been developing this framework since 2015 and its trial phase is almost complete.

 

WHAT IS IT?

PHECC’s recent submission to the Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Healthcare concludes with the following lines: 

Since its establishment, PHECC has championed change and guided the improvements in the standard of services and quality of clinical care afforded to patients. It is committed to developing a ‘common currency’ for patient care in Ireland (Strategic Plan 2015-2017). 


A clear demonstration of this commitment to change and improvement was the Council’s inclusion of “implementation of clinical governance review for licensed CPG providers” in their Business Plan for 2016.  This was followed this up in the Councils action plan designed to deliver the strategic plan (2015-17). 


The PHECC executive were tasked to commence the development of a quality review framework for licensed CPG providers. This development programme is now reaching its conclusion and the governance validation framework design and assessment methodology are currently being trialed in a number of services. 

WHY HAVE IT?

Councils commitment to the GVF provides evidence of their stated value “Protecting the public through promotion of excellence is our principal commitment and responsibility”. (Strategic plan, 2015-17)

 The GVF is designed to:
  • support licensed CPG providers to adopt and develop a quality improvement focus in all aspects of their organisations.
  • provide PHECC with the confidence that the organisation has adequate systems of governance in place to support the delivery of safe and effective care for the patient.
  • provide the public with confidence and assurance that licensed CPG providers have quality improvement programmes in place.

WHAT’S INVOLVED?

The GVF trial is conducted by external assessors and consists of three separate elements.

Self
Assessment

 Performed by completing a template, under six specific themes.
 The organisation reviews its own capacity and capabilities. This template is designed so that the organisation can understand how each element is evidenced, and can highlight areas of good practice. Self-assessment generates an organisational quality improvement plan
Governance
Assessment		 Following submission of a self-assessment, performed annually. Performed by GVF assessors as a tabletop review of the organisations policies, procedures and supporting evidence.  It includes engagement with management of the organisation
Site
Assessment
 Occurs once every three years. Involves a self-assessment and GVF assessors reviewing local governance, mechanisms to deliver safe and effective care and equipment and medication management. The site assessment also involves interviews with the organisations leadership and engagement with practitioners. Site-assessment is aimed at evidencing the implementation of organisational policies to deliver safe and effective practice at the point of care delivery.

WHAT’S NEXT?
Five organisations volunteered to participate and assist PHECC in developing this framework and statutory, private and voluntary services were represented. At this point, each element of the framework has been tested and the participating organisations have received feedback on their self-assessment. Here are some notable comments PHECC received during these feedback sessions.



The GVF trial was designed to highlight areas of potential improvement and promote the development of a quality improvement plan within the participating licensed CPG providers organisations. 

PHECC would like to thank each participating organisation for their assistance to date. Participation in this trial should promote a better and safer pre-hospital system for patients, whilst also developing PHECC corporate knowledge related to GVF implementation across it’s licensed CPG providers. Reports will be issued to the participating services and a factual accuracy phase will be completed. Finally PHECC will conduct a programme evaluation and then produce a final trial report which will be presented to Council.