Clinical Governance at STIA
Quality of care is a priority at STIA, and we adhere to clinical governance standards to ensure mental healthcare is delivered to a high level.
What is Clinical Governance?
Clinical governance is an integrated set of leadership behaviours, policies, procedures, responsibilities, and relationships that are implemented within a health organisation such as STIA. The purpose of adhering to clinical governance standards is to support safe, quality clinical care and promote good clinical outcomes for each consumer. Importantly, it also provides a framework for ongoing planning, monitoring and service improvement that involves staff and consumers alike. Below is information on the 7 pillars of clinical governance and how STIA talks to these pillars in providing clinical care.
What are the 7 pillars of clinical governance?
The 7 pillars framework is considered best practice and is recommended by National Model Clinical Governance Framework (safercare.vic.gov.au). The 7 pillars framework is implemented in health settings and is developed and implemented through 7 separate, but interrelated pillars (such as staff management and clinical effectiveness, see Figure 1 below).
Figure 1: 7 pillars clinical governance framework (safercare.vic.gov.au)
Why are the 7 pillars of clinical governance important?
Each of the 7 pillars noted in Figure 1 contribute and supports cycles of monitoring and improving quality of care for consumers. Although each component is presented as a stand-alone pillar, in practice, each pillar is intimately interconnected to all other pillars, and actions taken in one area will inevitably impact another. For example, training and education of staff will likely have a direct impact on clinical effectiveness.
1. Clinical Effectiveness
Any treatment used must endeavour to provide the best outcome for the client:
AT STIA all treatment is driven by the scientist-practitioner model as to what is best practice in treating clinical disorders, referring to best practice guidelines, the evidence base and ensuring that all staff consult senior clinicians to help guide their practice and improve clinical outcomes. This also involves self-reflective practice. STIA also engages in research to improve clinical practice at the clinic and more broadly in clinical psychology.
2. Risk Management
STIA ensure that all staff, including administrative staff are familiar on how to recognise and manage risk. Risk is considered part of a treatment formulation and is part of patient care. Legal obligations govern how risk is managed at the clinic. All staff are supported in how to assess risk and are guided by senior staff in implementing risk management.
3. Patient & Public Involvement
At STIA we use client-centered outcomes to assess client’s impression of the quality of care that is provided through the use of various psychometric tools. The data are collated on a regular basis and are discussed not only with practitioners, but relevant changes are implemented where deemed necessary. We also welcome feedback about how best to improve our services by service users. To leave your feedback please click the button below - your feedback is anonymous by default and goes directly to our clinic director but you can leave contact details if you would like to hear from us.
4. Audit
At STIA, we conduct regular audits on clinical care and adherence to professional standards. This includes how treatment is delivered, the use of evidence-based practices. and how clinical effectiveness is measured (including patient feedback, note taking and liaising with other treatment parties).
5. Staff Management
Staff consistently meet with the clinical director regarding their maintenance and development of professional practice. This ensures staff wellbeing, and that staff are regularly meeting their education and professional development opportunities to effectively carry out their role. Therefore, discussions focus on staff self-care, appropriate workload and needs around supervision, education, and professional development. Aligning learning and professional development with outcomes is associated with clinical excellence. This ensures a continual cycle of clinical advancement and lifelong learning.
6. Education & Training
Staff are offered regular supervision. This is in addition to the regular professional development organised by the clinic on special topics or areas of clinical need and education. Regular case conferences are also offered by a psychiatrist and attachment expert given that psychiatric and attachment issues are present in many numbers of clients who present to STIA. Furthermore, external professional development is organised for staff where clinically indicated. Finally, ongoing supervision in schema therapy (and clinical practice) is offered by experts in the field and is a condition of employment.
7. Information
All patient records are recorded on Halaxy (to learn more about how Halaxy secures your records please go to: https://www.halaxy.com/article/security). All notes are expected to be completed on the day of consultation and published so they are time stamped. Audits are conducted regularly to ensure that notes are not only done but meet professional standards on how to document health records. For more information regarding our privacy policy and how your information is stored please go here: https://www.stia.com.au/privacy-policy.