The purpose of our team
- The team’s primary function is to apply the NHSE Quality Strategy and Framework across the Thames Valley area (BOB and Frimley ICSs). This multi-professional framework enables us to support our system partners, education and placement providers by delivering a whole workforce quality perspective.
- This approach also provides a platform to respond to concerns about education and training quality from across the system, and enables the identification, sharing and adoption of good practice across the health and care system.
The priority areas of our work
- We monitor clinical placements across the Thames Valley and carry out quality interventions in the areas of highest risk, using NHSE’s Intensive Support Framework.
- We work closely with the National Quality Team on initiatives such as embedding NHSE’s National Education and Training Survey (NETS), working on the introduction of the first NHSE wide Self-Assessment Report for placement providers and the development of a national quality management system.
- We triangulate data and intelligence sources, including survey results and other sources, to assess risk and identify areas of concern.
- We log and track concerns on our bespoke, in-house, quality management system.
- The quality team manage interventions if required, for significant risks, as per the quality framework.
- We collate and share good practice with our stakeholders.
- We escalate concerns to our partners in line with national guidance.
- We work closely with our regulators including the General Medical Council to support the annual National Training Survey. We also work with the GMC to provide assurances that NHSE Thames Valley meets the standards set out in ‘Promoting Excellence’, including completion of the self-assessment questionnaire as part of the GMC’s quality assurance process.
- We support the Dental Dean and Dental team to fulfil the GDC’s quality assurance processes.
- We work closely with clinical faculty colleagues, such as Associate Deans, to identify, triangulate and resolve concerns about the quality of education and training.
- The quality team convenes the quality committee meeting on a monthly basis to manage training concerns and risks.
There is a strong quality governance structure that permeates the quality management process. Close collaboration with various bodies, including learners and local education providers, deanery structures, placement providers, enables the Quality Team work to take place.
We also meet with the education providers, PGMDE Schools and Pharmacy on an annual basis (with learners) to review the on-going risks and issues, and obtain learner feedback. The Quality Lead, Practice Learning meets with Higher Educational Institutions and the placement providers across the system.
There are also strategic meetings between the Senior Leadership team with NHSE Thames Valley, and the Senior Leadership Teams of the Trusts, which includes information from the Quality Team.
We work closely with the Trainee Advisory Committee (TAC) who help provide intelligence and information regarding the clinical learning environment and training concerns.
How do we work across the South East?
Each of the three South East Quality Teams; Hampshire and Isle of Wight (HIOW), Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) and Thames Valley (TV) work across all of our Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in the South East with responsibility for the placement providers in that area.
The NHSE South East Quality Intelligence Manager supports all of the local quality teams.
We report to regional structures such as the Education Quality Management Oversight Group (EQMOG), the NHSE risk meetings and to the senior management team within NHSE. We also report to the national quality team using our Quality Improvement Register (QIR).
External to NHSE, we report to the System Quality Group (SQG) of the ICS, as well as nationally to regulators.