The Quality tool is used alongside each of the 3Cs tools.
These are:
- Community nursing tool
- Community children’s and specialist nursing (CCSN) tool
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS) tool
The tool
The 3Cs tools do not currently provide staffing recommendations in whole time equivalents (WTE). This is because it was not possible to carry out observation studies in these areas of practice.
The Quality tool is a questionnaire designed to reflect the level of quality of care achieved during the time of tool runs for any of the 3Cs tools. It takes account of staffing, workload and the environment during the designated period.
The quality tool can highlight issues affecting staffing and workload during the tool run.
The tool will provide a score out of 100 once completed. This score is available via the standard BOXI reports. Those records with a score of 70 or above are deemed to exhibit best practice.
These scores can count towards the development of the calculators for the 3Cs tools. These calculators will provide staffing recommendations in whole time equivalents (WTE).
How to use this tool
Use this tool alongside the Professional judgement (PJ) tool and the relevant specialty specific tool for your area.
The current national recommendation is to run the tools for a two-week period, at least once per year.
At the end of each week, team leaders should complete the Quality tool questionnaire, with input from their team. Use the data capture template from the table below to record answers.
You should then upload the data to the SSTS platform.
Use the outputs from the tools, as part of the Common Staffing Method (CSM), to inform safe and effective staffing for your service.
The following video guides and documents provide information on completing this tool.
They provide detailed information from how to log in to how to finalise and submit data.
Resources to support you
| Resource | Source | What it is and what it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Resource | Source Healthcare Improvement Scotland | What it is and what it is for Step by step guide to background of Quality tool and data collection |
| Resource | Source Healthcare Improvement Scotland | What it is and what it is for Step by step guide to uploading data onto SSTS platform |
| Resource Quality tool user guide and FAQs (PDF 1989k) | Source Healthcare Improvement Scotland | What it is and what it is for User guide on using the Quality tool |
| Resource Quality tool data capture template (PDF 578k) | Source Healthcare Improvement Scotland | What it is and what it is for Printable data capture template |
| Resource | Source TURAS | What it is and what it is for A variety of learning resources to support understanding workload and workforce planning and the application of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019. |
| Resource | Source Healthcare Improvement Scotland | What it is and what it is for Printable checklist to aid tool run preparation and delivery |