Controls Assurance

What is it?

Controls Assurance underpins the Duty of Quality. It is "a process designed to provide evidence that NHS bodies are doing their reasonable best to manage themselves so as to meet their objectives and protect patients, staff, the public and other stakeholders against risks of all kinds" HSC 1999/123.

Currently there are 21 controls assurance standards, of these 11, are managed by the Facilities Directorate.  Annually we reassess each standard to establish progress made, identify outstanding actions, and subsequently update the action plans.  In addition to this we provide status reports twice a year on progress made.  The revised assessments and status reports are submitted to the Trusts Organisational Risk Committee.  Additional assurance as to our level of compliance is given by Internal Audit  (Suffolk Audit Services) who also reviews each assessment and supporting evidence.

Percentage scores for each standard:

To view the results over the last four years in the form of a chart, please click here.

The Controls Assurance standards managed by the Facilities Directorate:

Buildings, Land, Plant and Non-Medical Equipment Standard

Summary:

Healthcare estates are managed so as to provide a safe, efficient and effective environment of care.

Catering and food hygiene

Summary:

All catering management, food handlers and NHS premises from which food is sourced, stored, prepared or served, complies with the current food safety legislation and provides for the dietary and nutritional requirements of patients.

Decontamination of Medical Devices

Summary:

There is a system in place that ensures as far as reasonably practicable that all reusable medical devices are properly decontaminated prior to use and that the risks associated with decontamination facilities and processes are adequately managed.

Emergency planning

Summary:

The organisation has planned and prepared an organised and practiced response to all major incidents and emergency situations which affect the provision of normal services.

Environmental management

summary:

All tasks and processes that pose an environmental risk are managed to minimise any negative impact on the environment.

Fire safety

Summary:

Healthcare premises meet legislative and mandatory requirements that are designed to ensure an environment in which fire risks are minimised.

Medical equipment and devices

Summary:

There is a system in place which ensures that all risks associated with acquisition and use of medical devices are minimised.

Professional and product liability

Summary:

All goods and services, including professional advice, supplied by the organisation are properly managed to minimise potential liability risks.

Security management

Summary:

There is a secure environment that protects patients, staff, and visitors and their property, and the physical assets of the organisation.

Transport

Summary:

The organisation demonstrates improvement in fleet and transport management and reducing environmental and other risks associated with transport.

Waste management

Summary:

The segregation, handling, transport and disposal of waste is properly managed so as to minimise the risks to the health and safety of staff, patients, the public, and the environment.

Other groups within the Trust are responsible for managing the remaining standards, these are: -

Financial management
Governance
Health and safety
Human resources
Infection control
Information management and technology
Managing of purchasing and supply
Medicines management
Records management
Risk management system

Accountability Arrangements Chart for Controls Assurance

Documents:

HSC 2000/2001  Controls Assurance Statements 1999/2000; Establishment of the Controls Assurance Support Unit (pdf document)

HSC 1999/2000 Controls Assurance Statements 1999/2000; Risk Management and Organisational Controls (pdf document)

Annex A Background Information and Guidance on the Development and implications of Controls Assurance for 1999/2000 (pdf document)

Controls Assurance in the NHS (pdf document)

Risk Management in the NHS (pdf document)

Developing Locally Defined Internal Control Indicators (pdf document)

Frequently Asked Questions (CASU website)

Glossary of Controls Assurance Terms (CASU website)

Useful links:

Controls Assurance Support Unit (CASU)

Check out the Controls assurance benchmarking site to see how other trusts are performing against these standards

The Controls Assurance section of the DOH website