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Standards for health workers
28/10/2009
Mandatory standards and codes for Healthcare Support Workers and their employers were launched today.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced the decision to make the Induction Standards and Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) and the Code of Practice for their Employers mandatory across NHSScotland Boards to improve the public's experience of the NHS.
Support workers include all support staff with a direct service delivery role from those who keep the environment clean through those who transport patients to those who directly assist healthcare professionals.
The decision to make the standards and code of conduct mandatory follows recommendations from the independent evaluation report of the HCSWs' pilot.
The overarching aim of the pilot was to see whether the model, as tested, had the potential to enhance patient safety and public protection.
The pilot showed that HCSWs knew more about patient safety and had a desire to make further improvements. Public protection was identified as a strong motivator for both HCSWs and Workplace Supervisors (WPSs).
By late 2010 every new Support Worker will be required to meet the required standards within three months of taking up employment following ongoing "on the job" learning. HCSWs will also be required to show that they comply with the code of conduct for the duration of their employment.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Support workers operate at the frontline of NHS Scotland, and are crucial to its delivery, quality and readiness. They provide essential support and services to ensure the health service can function safely, effectively and efficiently. The Standards and Codes will help equip them, at a fundamental level, to do their best to protect patients and members of the public in every way they can during the course of their duties.
"This framework of mandatory standards and codes will, in the future, help support and reinforce the quality of service that patients and the public deserve to receive and experience.
"It is vital that our systems of assurance adapt to provide a flexible and responsive framework that protects public safety as healthcare changes and new functions evolve."
The pilot took place within three NHS Scotland Health Board pilot sites; NHS Lothian, NHS Ayrshire & Arran and NHS Lanarkshire, and in one independent hospital, from January 2007 until December 2008.
It was managed on behalf of the Scottish Government by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and was supported throughout its duration by strong lay representation and partnership working - with staff side representation at all levels of governance.
The Standards and Codes will be made mandatory through a Direction from the Scottish Ministers to Health Boards, Special Health Boards and the Common Services Agency, with accompanying guidance.