Care and treatment of eating disorders - national specification: consultation

Part 3: Implementation and measurement

The questions in this section are seeking initial views on what support services will need to implement the Specification, as well as how to measure implementation.

This part of the consultation may be most relevant to people who have experience working in or running services, but we welcome everyone's views.

Implementation

35. Overall, what support do you think services will need to implement the National Specification for the Care and Treatment of Eating Disorders in Scotland?

Measurement

A key aim of this Specification is that it is measurable. Being able to measure service delivery against the Specification, allows sharing good practice, celebrating successes, identifying any issues and driving service improvement. It is important that measurement does not add unnecessary burden to services.

We are proposing that the implementation of the Specification is measured in two ways:

Firstly, by services across the country filling out a self-assessment tool to collect information and data to find out how the Specification is being implemented across their services.

A self-assessment tool is a way for services to gather information to allow them to evaluate how well they are delivering against the Specification. The tool will allow services to provide evidence to show that they are meeting the Specification, supporting them to recognise good practice and make necessary improvements to the services that they deliver. It is proposed that this self-assessment would be a continual way to drive improvement in services over time. The number and frequency of self-assessments is still to be decided.

Secondly, we propose another way to measure performance, by collecting and publishing data on a number of indicators.

An indicator is information collected across the country that provides a measure of how well services are delivering against the Specification. Service providers will be asked to submit data on these indicators, which will be analysed and published to allow the Scottish Government to understand how services are performing against the Specification and how well they are delivering for the people who use them.

It is proposed that this data on indicators would be collected, analysed and published on a regular basis. The frequency of collection is still to be decided. Examples of potential indicators include questions such as: “I was asked about my needs and my personal circumstances and requirements and these were considered in planning care and treatment” or “I was treated with kindness, compassion, dignity empathy, and respect when accessing services”.

36. How far do you agree that the Specification should be measured using a validated self-assessment tool?

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither Agree or Disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

37. How far do you agree that the Specification should be measured using a range of indicators?

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither Agree or Disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

38. Do you have any other comments on the possible questions to include in the self-assessment, including any further suggestions?

39. We know that currently not everyone has the same experiences or outcomes when they receive treatment for an eating disorder. We want this Specification to help make sure that services meet your needs whoever you are and whatever your background. How would you suggest that we support services to reduce inequalities in the outcomes and experiences of people who use services, including in the measurement of the Specification?