Quality Assurance

Self-Assessment 

The HEE Self-Assessment (SA) is a process by which Clinical Placement Providers’ carry out their own quality evaluation against a set of standards. It is based on the philosophy of continuous quality improvement, the identification of quality improvement potential, the development of action plans, implementation, and subsequent evaluation.

Clinical Placement Providers’ are asked to complete an online form indicating where they have or have not met the standards as set out in the SA. There is the opportunity under most of the questions to provide comments to support answers, this is optional and not mandatory.

The 2022 Provider Self-Assessment National Report summarises the response from providers and work underway to improve education and training quality.

Benefits to Clinical Placement Providers

A SA encourages learning providers to take ownership and responsibility for assessing the quality of their learning environments and putting activity in place to address concerns arising as a result, seeking support (internally and externally) as required. It introduces, or reinforces, the importance of self-reporting or assessment as part of their monitoring approach, encouraging self-reflection and focus. Accountability at a senior/executive level within the providers will also be introduced as sign off will be expected prior to submission to HEE.

Clinical Placement Providers’ will be able to use the SA as a form of re-assurance to other stakeholders to whom they report e.g., regulators, commissioners. Embedding the HEE SA as part of internal governance frameworks demonstrates a commitment to quality improvement and transformation.

To attract and retain workforce, the SA can be used as a useful promotion tool to demonstrate commitment to education and training.

Health Education England Quality Interventions - Published Reports

Health Education England (HEE) is responsible for ensuring that there are high-quality learning environments for all healthcare learners in England. Since the publication of the multi-professional HEE Quality Strategy and HEE Quality Framework in 2016/17 (since refreshed in 2021), HEE regional teams have used a suite of agreed Quality Interventions to monitor and improve the quality of education and training across England.  These often involve gaining direct feedback and insights from learners and their supervisors/educators during visits to the provider organisations where healthcare education and training, funded thorough the NHS Education Contract, is delivered (including an increasing variety of settings in the primary, secondary, community and independent sector).

HEE is committed to publishing an outcome report within 50 days of a quality intervention taking place (this does not preclude improvement work commencing ahead of publication).

It is important to note that the details provided in these reports relate to a snapshot of the learning environment at single point in time and are underpinned by the views, opinions and experiences of healthcare learners, educators and management (triangulated with other evidence where possible). HEE and the provider will be working collaboratively to address any areas outlined where HEE’s quality standards, as set-out in the HEE Quality Framework and NHS Education Contract, are not being met.  We will also seek to identify, highlight and share good practice where we find it.

Published Reports

Please Note:  The published reports section of the website is currently under review.

Published reports are set out below by region. Please note that the evidence presented in each report will include the views, opinions and experiences of healthcare learners, educators and management at a particular period in time.