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Turf-cutting event marks start on site for new Belper health centre
https://dchs.nhs.uk/news/turf-cutting-event-marks-start-site-new-belper-health-centre
Annual Member's Meeting (AMM) 2025
AMM (Annual Members Meeting) for DCHS November 2025
https://dchs.nhs.uk/about-us/council-governors/become-member/annual-members-meeting
LGBT+ staff network refresh!
https://dchs.nhs.uk/my_dchs/show-me/staff-news-my-download/lgbt-staff-network-refresh
New recycling arrangements explained
New recycling arrangements explained 2025
https://dchs.nhs.uk/my_dchs/show-me/staff-news-my-download/new-recycling-arrangements-explained
Patient Safety
Patient Safety is the freedom from harm in healthcare and is a process by which an organisation makes patient care safer.
https://dchs.nhs.uk/about-us/quality-heart-our-care/patient-safety
Files
Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Policy (P90)
To provide information about the practical help and support that is available to employees of DCHSFT who are currently experiencing domestic abuse, or are experiencing trauma as a result of their past experiences of abuse. This Policy also covers the approach to be taken where an employee’s behaviour towards their family may constitute domestic abuse. Providing this information empowers Managers to take effective, supportive action and reinforces the message that domestic abuse and sexual violence cannot be ignored.
Guidelines for assessing pain in patients with Cognitive Impairment and or communication problems (G203)
Within DCHS 4 pain assessment tools have been provided to help meet patient’s individual needs: PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE – PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR PATIENTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT (Abbey Pain Scale) PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR USE WITH FAMILY AND CARERS OF PATIENTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT DISABILITY DISTRESS ASSESSMENT TOOL (DisDAT)
Local Decontamination Of Reusable Medical Devices-Dental and Podiatry Services (P16)
The aim of this policy is to detail the practices and principles for the local decontamination of reusable medical devices, with reference to podiatric services.
Adult Nutrition Food and Hydration Policy (P50)
This policy aims to improve the nutrition and hydration of all adult patients cared for by staff working throughout Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHSNHSFT) including those with special/therapeutic dietary requirements. It explains how patients who are at nutritional risk can be identified, how nutritional status may be improved, what support there is from members of the multidisciplinary team and how support and training can be accessed. The major challenge for community hospitals and staff working within the community will be meeting the nutritional requirements of patients who are nutritionally vulnerable; hence much of this policy is based around nutrition support. By achieving the care in the Policy, it will allow the Trust to meet a number of voluntary and mandatory standards including the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 14: Meeting nutrition and hydration needs (2015), The Hospital Food Standards Panel’s report on standards for food and drink in NHS Hospitals (2014), NICE - Nutrition support in adults. Quality standard 24 (2012) and the British Association of UK Dieticians (BDA) – The Nutrition and Hydration Digest: Improving Outcomes through Food and Beverages Services 2nd Edition (2017) Whilst this Policy focuses primarily on nutrition, as an important nutrient, water cannot be overlooked. Detailed information on assessing and maintaining patients hydration needs can be found in the Appendix
Belper health and community services hub plans - public presentation for 27 January 2022.pdf
Belper health and community services hub - plans. Public presentation (27 January) prior to submitting planning application.
Risk Management Policy
The aim of this document is to provide clear and accurate direction & guidance to risk management for all staff within Derbyshire Community Health Service NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS). Risk management is the recognition and effective administration of all threats that may negatively impact upon values, standards & reputation of DCHS thus preventing planned objectives that in turn may preclude the Trust in its delivery of high quality statutory responsibilities. Risk management also includes positive exploitation of any opportunity that may present during threat analysis or mitigation. The purpose of this policy is to evidence the importance of risk management to DCHS, maintain a consistent approach to effective risk management, ensure accurate & effective systems and processes are firmly in place to support all staff in the management of corporate and operational risks across the organisation. Provide a single point of reference for information pertaining to all contributing facets, platforms, staff & agencies involved in the management of risk throughout all areas of service provision. DCHS’ risk Management policy seeks to mitigate risks that may threaten delivery of planned strategic objectives and put in place measured controls to manage such risks to as low as reasonably practicable.
Standard Operating Procedure for Waiting List Validation (S108)
The purpose of this SOP is to set out the waiting list validation stages and process for staff and managers with services that have waiting lists. Across Planned Care and Specialist Services (PCSS) there are patients on waiting lists. To support the management of these waiting lists it is important to regularly validate those patients who are waiting to be offered an appointment. Services with waiting lists should consider the appropriateness and frequency of undertaking the three stages of waiting list validation, these being: technical, administrative, and clinical.
Clinical Harms Review Additional detail for Service Level SOP (S133)
This document should be read in conjunction with the overarching DCHS Standard Operating procedure on Clinical Harms which outlines the processes to be followed to deliver a consistent approach to. • Risk stratification to minimise clinical harm as a result of delays in care. • Embedding systems which take into account health inequalities. • Monitoring waiting times against defined thresholds across pathways of care. • Delivering personalised, patient-centred communications to patients who are waiting for care. • Implementing Harm Reviews that support the Trusts governance and assurance processes and maintains practice in line with national expectations. The intention of the service level document is to provide specific detail on. • The risk stratification process in operation and clinically appropriate to specific service lines and patient cohorts • Waiting time thresholds for the relevant patient pathways
S146 - Infant Feeding Specialists SOP
This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) gives an overview of the service provided by Infant Feeding Specialists (IFS). It also supports a commitment to ensure evidence-based tools and training are embedded within practice, supporting the local commissioning for outcomes recommendations, and offering assurance that the service is focused on personalised and needs based care. This Standard Operating Procedure should be used in conjunction with other DCHS Childrens and DCHS Trust policies along with UNICEF Baby Friendly standards.
Disclosure Ref 202528 - Quality assurance software systems, used by nursing teams for auditing and accreditation .pdf
Disclosure to freedom of information request regarding quality assurance software systems, used by nursing teams for auditing and accreditation across the NHS. The examples of the audits would be - safeguarding audits, falls audits, medicines, hand hygiene audits or ward accreditation