Patient Safety Incident Reporting Framework (PSIRF) standards: co-production of adaptations for the care home sector to improve cross-system integration

Craig Newman, Celia Mason, Katie Brittain, Pamela Dawson, Michele Spencer, Kate Sykes, Justin Waring, Lesley Young-Murphy, Jason Scott*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Context
The National Health Service (NHS) in England has introduced the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) which seeks to guide learning from safety incidents, including those that occur across different health and social care services. At the foundation of PSIRF are standards that stress a set of minimum expectations of patient safety incident reporting and learning, however, their development has side-stepped social care and the care home sector.

Objectives
This study aimed to co-produce recommendations for adapting PSIRF standards for care homes.

Methods
Nominal Group Technique workshops were conducted with key stakeholders. Participants generated and developed consensus on recommendations for adapting PSIRF standards, with data analysed inductively and conceptually mapped.

Findings
People (n=17) from senior roles in care homes, external organisations and public involvement representatives participated. There was high agreement that PSIRF standards insufficiently represented care homes. Required revisions to PSIRF included addressing use of NHS-centric language, approaches to training, resource provision, oversight, and implementation support.

Limitations
Almost all participants were at senior levels, which may impact on whether adaptations to PSIRF standards would result in standards that could be implemented.

Implications
Resources in care homes to support cross-system learning are currently lacking, and PSIRF standards do not sufficiently link care and communication across boundaries. Once idenyified issues are addressed, PSIRF is promising for integraying safety incident responses between NHS and care home sectors. Care home sector should be involved at the outset of future patient safety policy developments that aim to improve integrated and cross-sector working.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Long-Term Care
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 31 Jan 2025

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