Accreditation tips - caregivers

Short notice accreditation assessments

Cheat sheet: for caregivers

If an assessor shadows your patient

• Consent has been pre-arranged by your manager or a member of the Hospital Management Committee.

How to support your patient

Advise the patient and their family of the following:

• The assessor will not question clinical decisions.

• The assessor will not ask questions relating to the treatment or procedure the patient is having.

• They may be asked questions related to rights and responsibilities, informed financial consent, procedure consent, family escalation of care or caregiver processes e.g. hand hygiene, drug checking, inclusion in handover or safety.

• The assessor may accompany the patient at any point in their patient journey (from admission to discharge). Patients can advise a caregiver if they do not wish for the assessor to accompany them at any stage of their admission.

• Patients hold the right to change their minds after previously having consented to speak to an assessor or have an assessor follow their journey.

Short notice accreditation assessments

If an assessor shadows you

• This is to confirm that the care and treatment we said we deliver, actually takes place.

An assessor may ask

• Have you completed your required mandatory training?

• Have you completed your required performance review and management plan?

• How are you applying the 'Clinical Care Standards' relevant to your area? I.e. How are you providing care for patients who have a peripheral intravenous cannula (PIVC), delirium, or to help prevent a DVT or PE?

• What are the key risks or issues for your ward, unit or department? What are you doing about these?

• How are you meeting an individual patient’s specific care needs?

• If you are responsible for a check e.g. drug fridge or resuscitation trolley, is this being done as per the schedule?

• How do you know that your care is making a difference? (refer to audits, NPS).

Important

• If an assessor asks a question, and you are unsure what they mean, you can ask them to rephrase their question.

• If you are unsure where to start with an answer, walk the assessor to your area's Quality Board and talk through it.

• For any questions you are still unsure about, let the assessor know and advise you will follow up with your manager or caregiver in charge.