Psychological therapies and interventions specification

Annex F

Example terms of reference of the clinical governance, standards and training board for psychological therapies *

Background

Strong clinical governance of the delivery of psychological therapies is essential for good patient care. As such, the implementation of psychological therapies needs to follow an evidence base that has been robustly evaluated. Systems of supervision and training need be aligned to the implementation of psychological therapies so that there is reliability relating to the quality of delivery of treatment.

Role and Purpose:

• To review and approve psychological therapies delivered based on the available evidence, primarily through reference to the NES Psychology Matrix which incorporates SIGN and NICE guidance. For those psychological therapies that do not as yet have an evidence base as reflected in the NES Psychology Matrix, to consider the evidence base in terms of research to determine their safety and effectiveness, and the appropriate extent of implementation. To review psychological treatments offered, particularly adapted or novel interventions.
• The additional benefit of a psychological treatment will be considered in terms of the resource usage required for individual care and the effective application of finite time and resources to meet the needs of the wider patient population. This means reviewing clinical evidence that draws on not only the published research base but also studies that consider treatment efficacy.
• To agree across all HSCPs the guidance required to support the delivery of individual evidence based psychological interventions, and the associated robust systems of governance relating to both performance and clinical supervision as well as training requirements and accreditation of psychological therapies (as per NES Matrix).
• To co-ordinate the delivery of evidence based psychological therapies and interventions with the training plans for each service, linking into the NES training as available. To use a peer review process to examine training needs identified by each clinical service delivering psychological therapies.
• To work with the PTTC (Psychological Therapies Training Co-ordinator) to establish training for psychological therapies already in use and to identify additional training required for new interventions. To also identify the supervision training required for psychology trainees.
• To review treatment efficacy in clinical practise, to support the use of minimal and mandatory outcome measures and goal-based interventions across all services by supporting regular audits for service use.

Chair:

The Chair of the Clinical Governance, Standards and Training Board will be the Director of Psychology or delegated member of the Senior Psychology Management Team.

Membership

Will include senior representation from all services delivering PT and across all partnerships. A review of membership will be conducted regularly to ensure appropriate representation, ensuring the appropriate balance between clinical and management input.

*(Acknowledgement - adapted from NHS Lothian)