Assignment - Managing Quality in Health and Social Care

Assignment title - The importance of managing quality in the age of austerity in Great Britain in health and social care sector.

Learning Outcomes -

1. Understanding differing perspectives of quality in relation to health and social care services.

1.1 Explain perspectives that stakeholders in health and social care have regarding quality.

1.2 Analyse the role of external agencies in setting standards.

1.3 Assess the impact of poor service quality on health and social care stakeholders.

2. Understand strategies for achieving quality in health and social care services.

2.1 Explain the standards that exist in health and social care for measuring quality.

2.2 Evaluate different approaches to implementing quality systems.

2.3 Analyse potential barriers to delivery of quality health and social care services.

3. Be able to evaluate systems, policies and procedures in health and social care

3.1. Evaluate the effectiveness of systems, policies and procedures used in a health and social care setting in achieving quality in the service(s) offered

3.2. Analyse other factors that influence the achievement of quality in the health and social care service

3.3 Suggest ways in which the health and social care service could improve its quality.

4. Understand methodologies for evaluating health and social care service quality.

4.1 Evaluate methods for evaluating health and social care service quality with regard to external and internal perspectives.

4.2 discuss the impact that involving users of services in the evaluation process has on service quality.

Purpose of this assignment - As a Health and Social care worker who has just been employed in the Borough Council of Tower Hamlets(LA) you are expected to have an understanding of strategies for achieving and improving quality in health and social care services within the community within your local community. Your LA has suffered regular protests by staff and family members on account of poor quality care service delivery due to frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases and has had an impact on service delivery. Your line manager, in an attempt to find a permanent solution, has requested you and other workmates to make written contributions by providing answers to the following questions.

Your line manager will collate and analyse the answers in the hope that these will provide a variety of insights that will ultimately help to solve the problems.

Use "Whipps Cross Hospital" as the organisation for my case scenario.

Scenario - There has recently been the spread of infectious diseases, suspected to be linked to Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), within the facility where you work for the care of elderly residents. A large number of the clients, many of whom are susceptible to infection, share eating and living accommodation.

Infections constitute a major cause of illness among care home residents which often result in an increased hospital admission rate; it is therefore very important to tackle such infections as quickly and efficiently as possible. Some healthcare - associated infections are resistant to antibiotics and this situation has generated high media attention, while the residents, their families and relatives, as well as local residents have all been very alarmed. Incidentally everyone seems to have an opinion and 'solution' to the problem.

General prevailing conditions: This case under consideration is happening at a period of economic recession when funding from the Local Authorities have been slashed and health and social care service providers are advised to re-evaluate and wherever possible redesign their strategies, approaches and systems for services delivery. Such changes have to be done with a view to improving service quality, the reduction in funding notwithstanding.

The structure of the NHS must have quality at its heart. Without it there will be unfairness and inequity. Every patient who is treated in the NHS wants to know that they can receive high quality care when they need it. Every service offered by NHS, and everyone who works in it should take responsibility for working to improve quality.

To ensure the Trust meets the national and local policy and practice requirements in Safeguarding

Adults, a local trust has developed their own policy. You are to answer the following questions below using the National Minimum Training Standards for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England guidance document to support your report.

You will use the National Minimum Training Standards for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England guidance document as relevant reference when addressing the assessment criteria.

Task 1 - Using the case scenario, your senior manager has asked you to produce an information pack. In this information pack, you must include the following to demonstrate an understanding of the differing perspectives of quality in relation to health and social care services

1.1 Explain perspectives that stakeholders connected with the health and social care organisation can have regarding quality.

1.2 Analyse the role of external agencies in setting standards for quality in health and social care.

1.3 Assess the impact of poor service quality on the stakeholders connected with the health and social care organisation under consideration.

To achieve M1 complex problems with more than one variable have been explored when explaining the different roles that specific external agencies connected with the health and social care organisation can have in setting quality standards. Suggested word count: 1,000.

Task 2 - Individual Presentation

You have recently been hired as the Quality Assurance Officer in a Hospital in Tower Hamlets. The Managing Director of the hospital has requested you to deliver a 15 minute presentation at a training session on the strategies for achieving quality in health and social care services.

What you must do Q1. In the first part of your presentation you must explain the standards that exist in health and social care organisations and the relationship with quality measurement.

Q2. In the second part of your presentation you must evaluate diverse strategies that can be used when implementing quality in health and social care.

Q3. Analyse with specific examples the potential barriers that you may come across as a health care official in the delivery of quality management systems (QMS) in health and social care Organisations.

Suggested word count: 750.

Presentation Guidelines -

1. This is an individual time constrained presentation.

2. The presentation lasts 15 minutes only. The presentation dates will be over a range of 2 class days, therefore it's important that you keep within your 15 minute time limit.

3. You must present your work as a PPT only. Failure to do so means you will not achieve LO2 at a pass level and therefore would be asked to re-present.

4. You should reference your work using a range of sources, use Approved Harvard referencing.

5. Submit your individual slides to your tutor and submit on Turnitin Software.

In your PowerPoint presentation you need to address the following to show a full understanding of

1. A general overview of the strategies for achieving quality in health and social care using a variety of standards, implementing quality and the possible barriers.

2. Explain the standards for measuring quality in Health and Social Care.

3. Evaluate different approaches to implementing quality systems.

4. Analyse potential barriers to delivery of quality health and social care services.

Your tutor will fill an Observation Record form for this activity. Note presentation will also be recorded as evidence of Task 2.

 To achieve M3 the appropriate structure and approach has been used when looking at the possible obstacle to delivery of quality health and social care services in the case study organisation. To achieve D1, you must arrive at a conclusion when evaluating different approaches and using clear examples to justify your ideas when implementing quality systems.

Task 3 - Recommended word limit maximum up to 1000 words.

The main focus of your discussions based on Managing Quality and should relate primarily to the case scenario while exploring wider issues relating to managing quality.

Report Writing -

3.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of systems, policies and procedures used in the health and social care setting in achieving quality in the service(s) offered.

3.2 Analyse other factor(s) that influence the achievement of quality in the health and social care service.

3.3 Suggest ways in which the health and social care facility could improve quality.

To achieve M2 you would have analysed other factors that influence the achievement of quality in the health and social care service using a range of methods and techniques. To achieve D2, substantial investigations surrounding effectiveness of systems, policies and procedures used to achieve quality service in the NHS has been evaluated.

Task 4 - Produce a brochure that incorporates the following:

4.1 Evaluate methods for evaluating health and social care service quality with regard to external and internal perspectives.

4.2 "It is often said it is important to involve service users in health care". Discuss the impact that involving users of services in the evaluation process has on service quality.

To achieve D3, convergent and lateral thinking was applied giving examples of methods for evaluating health and social care service quality from an external and internal perspective.

What you must do to produce a brochure:

TASK 4 requires students to produce a brochure which answers the assessment criteria using the policy document as reference. Below are steps for designing a brochure on Microsoft Word

1. Open a Word document.

2. On the upper left, click the "File" menu.

3. In the left vertical column, click the "New" tab.

4. Select "Brochures and booklets" from the available templates.

5. Select "Brochures" from the available templates.

6. Choose the kind of brochure you wish to use.

7. Include some pictures where appropriate.

Total - 2750 words + Brocuhre and only Task 1, 3 and 4 are needed. Task 2 (PPT slides) are not needed.

Attachment:- Health and Social Care Assignment Files.rar