Safety recommendation
HSSIB recommends that NHS England reviews and revises its guidance and policies to ensure consistency regarding the language used for age ranges (for example children, young people, young adults and adults). This is to support a consistent approach to healthcare delivery that aligns services and mitigates gaps.
Response:
NHS England supports this recommendation and recognises the importance of a consistent approach to healthcare delivery that aligns services to mitigate gaps. Existing guidance and national policy steers do recognise this, however, as noted in the report, its application in practice is variable and dependent on the relationship between multiple partners. NHS England will reiterate this in future guidance and policy. The report recognises pockets of good practice which NHS England will share and support other systems to learn from.
Further, the nationally-commissioned Culture of Care Improvement Programme includes a specific focus on personalised safety planning as an alternative to risk stratification. This will put the unique needs of patients and their families front and centre in decision making about support needs and transition/discharge arrangements.
Actions planned to deliver safety recommendation:
- Use consistent language regarding children and young people in guidance and policy. Additional comments: NHS England will ensure consistency in language when reviewing and updating existing /new guidance and policy.
- Deliver the culture of care improvement programme, with a specific focus on personalised safety planning as an alternative to risk stratification, by end of 2025/26. Organisational lead: NHS England. Resources in place to deliver actions: Funding secured.
Response received on 7 March 2025.