Independent audit of stop smoking providers - essential in the new policy context?
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Author(s)
Isobel Williams
Presenter(s)
Isobel Williams Project Manager, National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT)
Melanie Mcllvar Director (Operations), National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT)
Abstract
Monitoring of service provider performance is integral to the design of local service provision, to the understanding about how effectively the services are working and where improvements or opportunities can be maximised.
Local stop service provider returned data can relate to a number of key performance indicators, including four week quit rates, the proportion of these self-reported quitters validated by carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring and targets set for service throughput.
Regular independent auditing of data, as well as other core quality indicators measured through service infrastructure and protocols, ensures the validity of data returns provided by service providers, highlights areas of good practice as well as any areas for improvement, and provides commissioners with quality assurance.
The NCSCT was commissioned by the Department of Health to develop an independent audit model, which supports local commissioners and service providers to demonstrate whether the support they provide meets minimum standards of care and data integrity.
This presentation will describe the method behind and process of the model that has been developed as well as demonstrating how an independent audit can be of benefit to both service commissioners and providers.
Source of funding: English Department of Health and the NCSCT
Declaration of interest: The NCSCT has a commercial interest in the auditing of stop smoking service providers.
