We are looking for patient assessors for our 2024 PLACE assessment at Woking Community Hospital.
Role summary/purpose
PLACE stands for Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment. A PLACE assessment focuses entirely on the care environment and does not assess clinical care provision.
The following six areas are assessed during the inspection:
- Access to privacy for patients and respect for their dignity
- Food and hydration
- Cleanliness
- General building condition and appearance/maintenance
- Support to people with dementia
- Support to people with a disability
Assessment teams are made up of 50% staff and 50% current service users and their supporters (family, friends, partners, carers).
The assessment will take place in early November 2024 and will take one day. Your input will be invaluable. As a service user/carer, we would like you to participate in the full assessment process, which will include a training session of around 1-2 hours before the event. This will be arranged online or in person, depending on the number and availability of patient assessors.
You will also be asked to complete a separate assessment sheet, which highlights any issues that you want to raise about your involvement in the process and any additional comments about the care environment.
Main duties and responsibilities
Thank you for your interest in this role. As part of the role, we would like you to:
- attend the pre-inspection training provided by the patient experience manager
- familiarise yourself with the standards for the PLACE inspection
- follow the inspection process - with support from the team
- be an active member of the inspection team, present, and record your views when asked to do so
- show consideration and respect for the other members of the inspection team by actively listening and engaging in discussions and putting your points across in a professional manner
- help the group make recommendations that will lead to service improvements
- complete the service user assessment sheet and highlight any issues that you want to raise about your involvement in the process and any additional comments about the care environment
- understand and comply with all trust policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines relevant to this role
- take responsibility for your learning and attend supervision as and when required
Requirements for the role
To fulfil the duties of this role we ask that you:
- have experience being a service user this can include, for example, a patient or relative, friend or carer
- have an interest in improving the environment and facilities for patients
- attend local PLACE training
- have good oral and written communication skills
- have a positive regard for service users and their families
If you are interested in participating or have any questions about the role, please contact csh.volunteering@nhs.net, giving your full name, a contact phone number and email address. We aim to respond to your email within two working days.
For further information about PLACE assessments, including further guidance about the patient assessor role, visit Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE) - NHS Digital.