Quality Assurance Policy

Policy Statement

AESN Care will maintain systems that monitor the safety, effectiveness, experience and consistency of care and support. Quality assurance will combine audits, reviews, feedback, incident and safeguarding learning, staff competence, record checks and management oversight to identify improvement opportunities.

1. Introduction

Quality assurance is the system AESN Care uses to check whether its services are being delivered as intended and whether action is needed. It is distinct from the Quality Policy, which sets the organisation's overarching commitment to quality.

2. Purpose

The purpose is to provide a structured approach to monitoring, assurance, governance, action planning and continuous improvement.

3. Scope

The policy applies across AESN Care's relevant supported living, domiciliary, community and other adult care and support activities.

4. Policy Objectives

• Identify risks and quality concerns early.
• Monitor compliance with care plans and organisational requirements.
• Review incidents, safeguarding concerns and complaints.
• Assess staff training, competency and supervision.
• Listen to people we support, families and representatives.
• Track actions and verify improvement.
• Provide management oversight and accountability.

5. Definitions

Quality assurance is the structured process of checking and improving service quality. Audit is a planned review against defined requirements. Action plan records improvement actions, responsibilities and progress.

6. Legal and Regulatory Framework

Quality assurance will support applicable CQC expectations, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and relevant regulations, the Care Act 2014 where applicable, safeguarding duties, data protection requirements and other relevant care standards.

7. Roles and Responsibilities

• AESN Care Management provides governance and oversight.
• Managers complete or coordinate relevant monitoring and actions.
• Staff maintain accurate records and cooperate with quality reviews.
• People we support and their representatives should be involved in feedback and improvement where appropriate.

8. Quality Monitoring Areas

• Care plan quality and review.
• Risk assessments and risk management.
• Safeguarding concerns and outcomes.
• Incidents and near misses.
• Complaints and compliments.
• Medication processes where applicable.
• Training and competency.
• Supervision and staff practice.
• Record keeping.
• Feedback from people we support, families and representatives.
• Health and safety.
• Service continuity and responsiveness.

9. Procedures

AESN Care may use audits, record reviews, observations, supervision, feedback, incident analysis and management review. Audit frequency should be determined according to risk and organisational arrangements rather than assumed as a fixed legal requirement.

Where a concern is identified, an action should be assigned to an appropriate person, given a proportionate timescale and reviewed to determine whether it has been completed and whether it achieved the intended improvement.

10. Reporting and Escalation

Serious risks, safeguarding concerns, unsafe care and significant quality failures must be escalated promptly. Management should receive appropriate information about trends and unresolved risks.

11. Records and Documentation

Quality records should be accurate, dated, objective and securely stored. Records may include audits, action plans, feedback, incident analysis, supervision and competency evidence.

12. Training and Competence

Staff must maintain competence for their roles. Management should identify learning needs through supervision, audits, incidents, complaints and changes in care requirements.

13. Monitoring and Compliance

Quality assurance itself will be monitored through review of audit completion, action-plan progress, recurring concerns, feedback and governance information.

14. Breaches / Non-Compliance

Significant non-compliance will be escalated and may result in remedial action, additional supervision or training, safeguarding escalation or other appropriate action.

15. Equality, Diversity and Human Rights

Quality monitoring must consider whether care is equitable, accessible, respectful and responsive to individual needs.

16. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Quality reviews may involve sensitive information. Access and sharing will be limited to legitimate purposes and managed under data protection requirements.

17. Related Policies and Procedures

• Quality Policy
• Safeguarding Policy
• Clinical Complaints Policy
• Health & Safety Policy
• Data Protection Policy
• Privacy Policy

18. Review and Continuous Improvement

Quality assurance findings will be used to identify trends, share learning, prevent recurrence and improve care. People we support and staff feedback should inform improvement wherever appropriate.

19. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed periodically and following significant changes in regulation, service delivery or organisational governance.

Related Policies

• Quality Policy
• Safeguarding Policy
• Clinical Complaints Policy
• Health & Safety Policy
• Data Protection Policy

Review Arrangements

This policy will be reviewed by AESN Care Management at appropriate intervals and sooner where there is a significant change in legislation, regulation, service delivery, risk, guidance, learning from incidents or complaints, or organisational arrangements. Review findings and resulting actions will be documented.

Approval

Approved by: AESN Care Management