GEN56 Review strategies and plans to meet local needs for health care services

Overview

This standard is about contributing to the development and review of the local health care strategy by reviewing strategies and plans for commissioning health care services. There are many statutory agencies - as well as referrers, providers etc - involved in the commissioning of health care services. It is important that all partners support the overall local strategy and are clear about their individual roles and responsibilities for commissioning specific services. Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. Version No 1

Knowledge and Understanding

You will need to know and understand:

1. The importance of involving relevant people in the review of strategies and plans and how to do so
2. How to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences
3. The rights of individuals to equal access to health care services
4. The importance of monitoring activities in line with plans, and how to do so
5. Corrective action you can take in the light of significant variances
6. Recognised good practice in reviewing strategies and plans to meet local needs for health care services
7. How to contribute to the review and evaluation of strategies in ways designed to enhance and improve these strategies
8. How to report accurately on the effectiveness and efficiency of your plans
9. Your own role and the limits of your responsibility and authority

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

1. monitor activities against your plans at agreed intervals, and take appropriate corrective action in the light of significant variances
2. give those involved appropriate opportunities to contribute to the monitoring and evaluating plans
3. evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your plans against agreed criteria
4. report accurately on the effectiveness and efficiency of your plans as required
5. provide clear and valid explanations of any significant variances
6. agree with partner agencies the contribution that you and your agency should make to the review and evaluation of the local health care strategy
7. make appropriate contributions to reviewing and evaluating the local health care strategy
8. ensure your contributions are designed to enhance and improve the local health care strategy
9. involve key stakeholders appropriately in the review and evaluation of the local health care strategy

Additional Information

This National Occupational Standard was developed by Skills for Health. This standard links with the following dimension within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004): Dimension: Core 4 Service Improvement This standard has replaced HCS F1, HCS F2, HCS I8 and DANOS CA2.