Quality Assurers Policy

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1. Policy Statement

Coast Medic Ambulance Ltd is committed to delivering safe, effective, and high-quality ambulance services and training provision. We recognise that quality assurance is fundamental to maintaining high clinical standards, ensuring the competence of our workforce, and protecting the wellbeing of patients, learners, and communities.

This policy establishes a framework for monitoring, evaluating, and continuously improving the quality of both:

  • Ambulance operations and clinical care.
  • Training, education, and staff development programmes.

We will meet the requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), NHS clinical governance standards, and Qualsafe Awards Approved Centre policies and procedures.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All operational ambulance staff, clinicians, and volunteers.
  • All trainers, assessors, internal quality assurers (IQAs), and learners.
  • All service delivery areas, including patient care, event medical cover, transport services, and accredited/non-accredited training.

3. Quality Assurance Objectives

We will:

  • Ensure compliance with CQC fundamental standards and NHS commissioning requirements.
  • Ensure compliance with Qualsafe Approved Centre requirements, including trainer/assessor/IQA qualifications, assessment standards, and delivery ratios.
  • Maintain robust internal quality assurance systems for both ambulance services and training.
  • Continuously monitor and improve services using audits, feedback, and evidence-based practice.
  • Ensure clear accountability for quality assurance across all levels of the organisation.

4. Ambulance Services – Quality Assurance

  • Clinical Governance: All patient care follows JRCALC guidelines, NHS standards, and professional codes of conduct.
  • Incident Reporting: All incidents, near misses, and complaints are reported, investigated, and used to inform learning.
  • Clinical Audit: Regular audits cover patient report forms, medicines management, infection prevention, and safeguarding compliance.
  • Competence Assurance: Staff undergo annual clinical competence checks and additional reviews following incidents or concerns.
  • Patient Feedback: Patient and client feedback is actively sought, recorded, and acted upon.

5. Training Services – Quality Assurance

  • Trainer and Assessor Competence: All trainers/assessors hold relevant vocational and teaching/assessing qualifications as required by Qualsafe. Ongoing CPD is mandatory.
  • Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs): All IQAs hold appropriate qualifications. IQAs must not quality assure courses or assessments they have personally delivered.
  • IQA Sampling and Record Retention: Assessment decisions are subject to planned IQA sampling. All records (including learner work, assessor decisions, and IQA documentation) will be securely retained for at least three years and made available for Qualsafe External Quality Assurance.
  • Assessment Standards: All assessments are valid, reliable, fair, and free from bias. Special consideration and reasonable adjustments will follow Qualsafe’s Access to Assessment Policy.
  • Trainer-to-Learner Ratios: Delivery will comply with Qualsafe maximum ratios (e.g., 16:1 for face-to-face, 8:1 for remote learning). Smaller ratios will be used where risk assessments indicate the need.
  • Venues and Resources: Training venues, equipment, and learning resources will meet Qualsafe’s standards for health, safety, and effective learning environments.
  • Course Evaluation: Learner feedback will be collected, reviewed, and used to inform continuous improvement.
  • Delivery Plans: All courses will be delivered in accordance with Qualsafe-approved lesson plans, or alternative plans submitted and approved prior to delivery.

6. Roles and Responsibilities

  • Directors: Provide strategic oversight and ensure compliance with CQC, NHS, and Qualsafe requirements.
  • Quality Lead / IQA: Develop and implement IQA sampling strategies, monitor assessment decisions, and produce quality assurance reports.
  • Clinical Leads: Maintain clinical governance, lead audits, and ensure high standards of patient care.
  • Managers and Supervisors: Support consistent policy application, identify risks, and promote continuous improvement.
  • Staff and Trainers: Maintain competence, comply with policies, treat service users/learners fairly, and contribute to quality assurance processes.

7. Monitoring and Review

  • Ambulance Services: Quarterly audits, annual review of clinical governance, and action plans for areas of improvement.
  • Training Services: IQA strategies, sampling records, and external verifier reports reviewed regularly.
  • Combined Reviews: Quality meetings will integrate clinical governance with training assurance to provide a holistic picture of service and workforce standards.
  • Review Cycle: This policy is reviewed annually, or earlier in response to changes in CQC regulations, NHS guidance, or Qualsafe requirements.

8. Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with this policy may result in:

  • Additional training, mentoring, or supervision.
  • Disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
  • Withdrawal of trainer/assessor/IQA privileges.
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