THE Isle of Man Memory Clinic, part of the Older Persons Mental Health Service, has received confirmation of accreditation to the Memory Services National Accreditation Programme (MSNAP).
The Memory Clinic has developed significantly since its inception on the Isle of Man in 1998 providing specialist assessment, treatment and support to persons experiencing memory problems, with an emphasis placed on the detection and support of people with dementia.
MSNAP was developed by The Royal College of Psychiatrists Centre for Quality Improvement (CCQI) as an approach to supporting local service improvement for memory services. The accreditation process involves a comprehensive two stage period of self and peer review involving a broad range of people who access, work in, or come into regular contact with the participating memory services.
The standards and associated criteria for accreditation were initially developed by the CCQI from literature review and in consultation with stakeholders groups, followed by a pilot with 13 memory services in the North West of England. The standards and criteria are focused on the function and process of assessment and diagnosis and also cover management systems for the service, resources available to support assessment and diagnosis and signposting to ongoing management of care and follow up.
A series of data collection measures are used to monitor adherence to the standards and criteria. These include patient, carer, referrer and staff questionnaires, case records audit and a checklist of policies, protocols and procedures that govern service provision.
Following a period of self review from October 2009 until January 2010, the Isle of Man Memory Clinic hosted a peer-review visit by a multi-professional team on 18th February 2010.
Accreditation of the Isle of Man Memory Clinic was approved by Royal College of Psychiatrists’ on 29th April 2010 and covers a period of four years subject to satisfactory annual interim reviews.
This success follows on from Grianagh Court’s accreditation to AIMS in 2008 (Accreditation for Acute Inpatient Mental Health Service). This now means that along with achieving BICS (British Institute of Cleaning Sciences) and IIP (Investors in People), the Mental Health Service now has two nationally accredited awards from the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Director of Social Services, Andrew Swithinbank, said, “I am very proud of our excellent staff at the Clinic who are clearly worthy of this award for excellence. It shows they provide a top quality service.
“The accreditation process is very thorough looking at the quality of the service from all angles. Patients, carers, our own staff and other professionals are all asked their views on and experience of the service. Case records are audited and policies, protocols and procedures that govern service provision checked. This award adds to the set of trophies our services for people with mental health issues have acquired”.
Political Member for Social Services, Bill Malarkey, MHK, said, “The avoidance of memory loss and developing ways of dealing with it is very important to people as they grow older. I think it is wonderful that our clinic here has achieved this accolade. I thank the staff for all their hard work in ensuring we reach the highest standard”.
Minister for Social Care, Hon Martyn Quayle MHK added, “This award illustrates the positive impact which the varied services that form the Department of Social Care have on the quality of lives of people who need care and support. Our Department aims to enable all individuals to have the freedom to flourish despite age or disability and to enable them to cope with impairment so they can remain as independent as possible”.
