Care Inspectorate

Blog: Our new improvement strategy helps us to realise world-class care for everyone

By Heather Edwards, Interim Head of Improvement Support

The Care Inspectorate is in a unique position in that we provide scrutiny and assurance and we have a formal responsibility for furthering improvements in the quality of care people experience. Our scrutiny work drives continuous improvement and acts as a diagnostic tool on which we can plan our improvement support activity which is integral to the Care Inspectorate’s core purpose and a key function.

Our first Improvement Strategy 2017-2019 set out our crucial role in supporting improvement as well as checking that these changes have a positive impact on outcomes for people. This strategy went beyond the traditional way of setting targets, recommendations or requirements and brings a systematic approach to realising improvement in the quality of care.

We are now building on the work from that strategy as we continue to embed the Health and Social Care Standards and the dynamic process of self-evaluation that leads to a culture of continuous improvement. So, I am delighted to introduce the refreshed Improvement Strategy 2019-2022, which supports our new Corporate Plan 2019-2022 and contributes to realising our vision and common purpose of world-class care for everyone in Scotland.