Health and Work Development Unit 2011

Implementing NICE public health guidance for the workplace: Implementation and audit action planning toolkit

A. How to implement NICE guidance

The aim of this section is to outline the theory behind implementing NICE guidance.

There are six key components to a successful implementation process:

1. Clear leadership and board support.2. An individual or group responsible for

implementing guidance.3. Support from a multidisciplinary team.4. A systematic approach to resource & financial

planning.5. A systematic approach to implementing guidance.6. A process to evaluate implementation and feed

back.

1. Clear leadership and board supportEffective leadership and a culture of continuous

improvement are vital for the successful implementation of guidance.

Ultimate responsibility for the implementation of NICE guidance is with a chief executive but this is often devolved to other board members.

Who is your board representative and is (s)he aware of your audit participation and implementation work?

2. An individual or group responsible for implementing guidanceTheir responsibilities may include:• identifying and disseminating guidance to the

multidisciplinary team and arranging educational events

• horizon scanning and forward planning• ensuring effective processes for monitoring and

feeding back• producing regular implementation reports including

review of activities and progress.

Do you have a dedicated lead for this? Is everyone in the team aware?

3. Support from a multidisciplinary teamThe team should work with the individual indentified before to:•reduce duplication of work•ensure compliance with the recommendations for employers in the NICE guidance•ensure that effective review and monitoring arrangements are in place•ensure that forward planning occurs.

4. A systematic approach to resource & financial planning• Consider all financial and other resource

implications of your plans. You may need to develop and submit a business case or build activities into next year’s financial planning.

• Plans should detail resources required and associated cost.

• Teams could specify the process for negotiating funding between commissioners and providers of any required services.

• You may consider all sources of funding – routinely allocated, charitable funds etc.

5. A systematic approach to implementing guidance• This pack will take you through the steps to

action plan implementation activities later in the meeting.

• Audit is a tool to ensure a systematic and structured approach to continuous improvement.

• Please refer to the NICE website for further information, if required.

6. A process to evaluate implementation and feedbackEffective models of implementation

incorporate evaluation, audit and feed back to the board.

To whom do you feed back within your organisation? Who is your board member?

REVIEW• Which of these six components do

you do well?• On which could you improve?

Make a note for later as this will inform your action planning.