Using the Quality Improvement Framework

The Quality Improvement Framework for Dementia Post-Diagnostic Support in Scotland sets out the criteria for high quality post‑diagnostic support for people living with dementia. It is a self-assessment tool to support teams to identify good practice as well as areas for improvement.

We have gathered information on the impact of the framework to date.

Our impact

The framework has been adopted by Alzheimer Scotland. Alzheimer Scotland’s practitioners work in partnership with 16 Health and Social Care Partnerships to deliver post-diagnostic support.

We supported early adopters of the framework by establishing a learning and support group for framework users. The purpose of the group is to share learning about the framework across teams and areas. We recruited 16 early adopters to the group.

We conducted interviews with members of our learning and support group to learn more about the impact of the framework. Here are some examples of how teams have used the framework to benefit their service and the people they support.

• Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership used the tool as part of their commissioning process.
• East Edinburgh Post-Diagnostic Support in Primary Care site used the framework to consider their strengths, areas for improvement and to demonstrate exactly where the pandemic has impacted service delivery. Read their case study: Using the Quality Improvement Framework for Dementia Post-Diagnostic Support as part of the East Edinburgh Cluster Primary Care Project. 
• NHS Fife used the framework to support the standardisation of their service and identify areas for improvement. Read their case study: Using the Quality Improvement Framework for Dementia Post-Diagnostic Support as part of the East Edinburgh Cluster Primary Care Project.
• Shetland Island Council used the framework to support the development of their new service.
• Alzheimer Scotland used the framework to bring localities together for virtual self-assessment sessions.
• East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership used the framework to assist service delivery. Read their case study: Using the Quality Improvement Framework for Dementia Post-Diagnostic Support to assist service delivery in East Lothian. 

For more information on some of these examples, view our film above.

Testing the feasibility and usability of a post-diagnostic support single quality question

This summary sets out the key findings from a test to ask people with dementia and carers a single quality question to provide important national information about how helpful post-diagnostic support has been to them. Read the testing the feasibility and usability of a post-diagnostic support single quality question summary. 

We produced the single quality question in collaboration with Alzheimer Scotland, Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership and Inverclyde Dementia Reference Group. The aim of the test project was to:

• assess the feasibility and usability of a single quality question to establish the experience of the service and the difference it has made to the individual

• test the process for how post-diagnostic support services might use the single quality question as part of their evaluation of their services.

The summary includes next steps for the post-diagnostic support single quality question.

Next steps

Read the Quality Improvement Framework for Dementia Post-Diagnostic Support in Scotland.

We would like to hear from teams or services planning to use the tool. We are also interested in feedback from teams who have used the tool. Please get in touch with us to share your experiences.