Definitions
Chief Pharmacist or Equivalent – for the purposes of these standards this term is used to describe the senior Healthcare Professional with overall responsibility for the provision of Homecare Services within the Homecare Organisation or Commissioner. Examples include the Chief Pharmacist of an NHS Foundation Trust, or the Superintendent Pharmacist in a Homecare Service provider, or the Lead Pharmacist in a commissioning organisation or other appropriately registered Healthcare Professional appointed by the Homecare Organisation’s Board.
Clinical Care Pathway – the expected care to be provided by the healthcare service including specialist referral, diagnosis, medication supply route options, medicine and device options, dosage routes and frequencies, routine tests, decision points, treatment end points, interventions, step-up step-down care, and care options.
Clinical Referring Centre – The healthcare organisation with overall responsibility for all elements of the Patient’s clinical care. The ClinicalTeam within the Clinical Referring Centre is responsible for referring Patients to Homecare Organisations to initiate Homecare Services.
Clinical Team – multidisciplinary team of Healthcare Professionals involved in the management and delivery of a specific Clinical Care Pathway.
Commissioner – the organisation that commissions or funds the Homecare Services, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, NHS England (NHSE), Integrated Care Board (ICB), other clinical Commissioner, and equivalents in devolved nations.
Contract – legally binding written agreement e.g., commercial contract and Service Level Agreement.
Healthcare Professional – In line with CQC definition: A Healthcare Professional is a person registered with any of the following professional bodies, who is permitted by that body to provide or supervise the provision of the regulated activity:
- Health and Care Professions Council
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- General Pharmaceutical Council
- General Medical Council
- General Dental Council
- General Osteopathic Council
- General Optical Council
- General Chiropractic Council
- Social Work England.
The term Healthcare Professional also includes any professional who is included within a 'Section 60' order of the Health Act 1999. This includes professionals regulated under the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 and pharmacists regulated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
Healthcare Support Worker – staff working across a variety of healthcare settings, under the supervision of a Healthcare Professional, supporting them and helping Patients.
Home – normal place of residence for Patients, including but not limited to care homes, nursing homes, respite care facilities, residential schools and may include holiday accommodation.
Homecare Organisation – any organisation providing Homecare Services e.g., homecare provider, company or legal entity providing Homecare Services, NHS Foundation Trust, Health Board, nursing agency, social enterprise, and equivalents in devolved nations. Where all or part of the Homecare Services are sub-contracted, agreements are in place to define the responsibilities and the sub-contractor is subject to regular audit to ensure compliance with the relevant Contract and these standards.
Homecare Pathway – the expected care to be provided in relation to the Homecare Service.
Homecare Service – a service that delivers ongoing medicine supplies and, where necessary, associated care, initiated by the appropriate hospital or specialist prescriber, direct to the Patient. The purpose of the Homecare Service is to improve Patient care and provide choice of medicine supply route options within their Clinical Care Pathway.
Homecare Staff – Any person involved in the provision of a Homecare Service and/or working on behalf of the Homecare Organisation.
Homecare Team – multidisciplinary and crossorganisational team involved in the management and delivery of a Homecare Service.
Individual Care Plan – adjustments to the Clinical Care Pathway and/or Homecare Pathway defined for an individual Patient.
Patients – covers the full range of people using Homecare Services across sectors, including children and young adults, and their carers.
Senior Clinical Homecare Lead – is assigned for each Homecare Organisation. This clinical role is responsible for all clinical aspects of their Homecare Services and works in partnership with the Chief Pharmacist or Equivalent to ensure high quality of care and Patient safety. The Senior Clinical Homecare Lead can be any appropriate specialist Healthcare Professional e.g., consultant, specialist nurse, or other allied Healthcare Professional.