The Advanced Practice (AP) Policy sets out the procedural standards and governance and assurance processes for the role of Advanced Practitioner (AP) across services in East London NHS Foundation Trust in order to ensure that the Trust provides a workforce that delivers safe and effective care.
East London NHS Foundation Trust is committed to developing the Advanced Practitioner (AP) role across its services, and ensuring that governance and assurance are in place to support both the qualified and the trainee role.
This policy will also set out the recruitment process for Trainee APs, and what training and supervision both trainees and qualified practitioners should receive, that is appropriate to the individual needs of their job role and service requirements.
The Admission, Transfer and Discharge Policy provides service users, carers and Trust staff with a framework for enabling timely, safe and appropriate admission to, and discharge from, in-patient or residential settings:
- To establish standards of practice in admission, care planning and discharge.
- To make clear individual and service roles and responsibilities, andtimescales for action.
- To minimize variation in service user experience.
- To minimize the occurrence of ‘Delayed Discharge’.
This also includes: appropriate arrangements are in place when those receiving care and treatment from the Trust either are transferred between services that the Trust provides or are discharged from the Trust, which may involve the transfer of care elsewhere. It aims to draw attention to the potential risks involved in transfer and discharge and to emphasize the need for adequate planning in order that those risks are minimized and that continuity of care is provided.
This policy was updated in line with changes to new standards:
- 72 hour follow up care.
- Clinically ‘Ready for Discharge’ process.
- Enhanced considerations when no capacity to admit.
- Enhanced structures for oversight of OOA including considerations for support to family/carers.
The Seclusion Policy has been developed to guide good practice when initiating or supporting patients in seclusion.
The aim of this policy is to ensure that:
- The secluded patient, other patients and members of staff are safe
- The patient is cared for and supported, both during and after seclusion
- Seclusion takes place in a suitable environment, and takes account of the patient’s dignity and physical well-being
- The continuing need for seclusion is reviewed utilising the skills and experience of available staff.
- Each period of seclusion is recorded completely and contemporaneously
- The care plans and risk assessments of the secluded patient are updated
- Members of staff understand their roles and responsibilities and work within legal and procedural guidelines
- Patients are only secluded in seclusion rooms as identified by the Trust
- All staff are working with the least restrictive options that can be offered to patients based on their presentation and risks.
Minor amendments were made to this policy to include;
- Patients in seclusion being discussed in MDT discussions including ward rounds and safety huddles where they are unable to attend.
- Guidance on the use of tear proof Clothing.
The Fire Safety Policy (FSP) is aimed at the management of Fire Safety at ELFT sites directly under its control and must be used in conjunction with all other pertinent ELFT policy / management documents.
- The key objectives of this Policy are to:
- To minimise the incidence of fire throughout the Trust’s premises.
- To minimise the impact from fire on life safety, delivery of service, the environment and property.
- To ensure that the Trust fully complies with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire codes and other Fire Regulations and Standards relevant to the Trust operations.
The Health and Safety (H&S) Policy highlights the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASWA) and outlines:
- How the Trust will establish and maintain a healthy workplace
- Safe systems of work
- Arrangements to monitor health and safety of employees
- Provision of information and training
- Management responsibilities
- The role of the Risk Officer
- The role of the Risk Facilitator
- The role of departmental mangers
- The role of the Governance and Risk department.