Risk Management Standards and Assessments
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When is our next assessment due?
The date of your assessment will be determined by the date of your last formal assessment or pilot assessment against the NHSLA standards if successful, whichever is the latter. Typically, the organisation will be assessed in the same quarter as your previous assessment, although you may choose to be assessed earlier in the financial year. Level 0 organisations are required to be assessed annually, Level 1 organisations every two years and Level 2 and 3 organisations every three years. A
ny organisation failing an assessment – even if it retains its existing level – is required to be assessed at the level attained in the following financial year.
However,
if an organisation chooses to be assessed at a lower level and passes, but as a result drops back to a lower level, they are not required to be assessed in the following year. From April 2009,
Level 1 and 2 organisations have the option of being assessed at a higher level at an earlier date in the financial year and in the years between mandatory assessments. In the year(s) between assessments, the organisation is entitled to an annual informal visit. Please refer to section 4 of the relevant standards manual.
I understand we are to be assessed in the same quarter of the year as our previous assessment, is this correct?
Yes, although an earlier assessment can be requested. Please note that Level 2 and 3 assessments will not, other than in exceptional circumstances, be conducted in the last quarter of any financial year. Thus, where relevant, the assessment quarter for organisations previously assessed in January to March will be the quarter October to December where a Level 2 or 3 assessment is to take place. Please refer to section 4 of the relevant standards manual.
We’re due assessment in 2009/10. Can we have feedback on a self-assessment during 2008/09?
All organisations are entitled to an annual informal visit in the year(s) between assessments to provide focused advice and guidance in relation to the standards and to monitor progress against the organisation’s self-assessment. If you would like an informal visit in 2008/09 and have not yet booked a date, please contact your assessor. Although, as the assessor diaries for this financial year are already very full, there may be a limited choice of dates. Please refer to section 4 of the relevant standards manual.
If we have a Level 3 assessment and slip a level, when would we be re-assessed and at what level?
You will be assessed at Level 2 (or Level 1 on request) in the same quarter (or earlier on request) in the following financial year. Please refer to section 4 of the relevant standards manual.
Are we to expect a Level 4 assessment?
It is possible that a Level 4 could be developed and would probably require the organisation to demonstrate detailed changes in practice being introduced to manage risk. Also, it is possible that patient pathways could be used to gain higher accreditation. However, no definite proposal or timeframe has yet been established for the introduction of a Level 4 by the NHSLA.
Will acute and maternity levels be linked in future?
At this time there are no plans to link the levels, but this will be kept under review as it is important that organisations value both sets of standards appropriately.
Can our organisation have an informal visit in the same year as an assessment?
No. Organisations are entitled to only one visit per year, which can be either an informal visit or formal assessment. The only exception to this rule is for organisations at Level 0. Organisations that either fail a Level 1 assessment or drop to Level 0 from a higher level must undergo an informal visit within six months of the date of the assessment. In some cases this informal visit will take place in the same financial year as the assessment.
How much notice do we need to provide if we wish to cancel an assessment?
Mandatory assessments cannot be cancelled other than in exceptional circumstances. Organisations that have booked a non-mandatory assessment may cancel the assessment. The organisation’s assessor should be notified in writing of the organisation’s wish to cancel the assessment and should provide the assessor with as much notice as possible to enable the dates to be released for another organisation.