Pages
Health Psychology
The DCHS health psychology service provides specialist psychological care and support to adults with physical health problems.
https://dchs.nhs.uk/our-services-and-locations/a-z-list-of-services/health-psychology
Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
Patient Group Directions - PGDs provide a legal framework that allows some registered health professionals to supply and/or administer a specified medicine(s) to a pre-defined group of patients, without them having to see a prescriber.
Improvement, Innovation and Effectiveness
Supporting colleagues to keep DCHS an outstanding place to work and recive care.
https://dchs.nhs.uk/about-us/quality-heart-our-care/improvement-innovation-effectiveness
Sustainability/Green Agenda
https://dchs.nhs.uk/my_dchs/i-want-more-information-on/corporate-services/sustainabilitygreen-agenda
Pension Automatic Re-Enrolment - July 2025
https://dchs.nhs.uk/my_dchs/show-me/staff-news-my-download/pension-automatic-re-enrolment-july-2025
Files
Disclosure Ref 2025211 - Agency spend for staff groups April 2025.docx
Freedom of Information disclosure relating to agency spend for staff groups for April 2025
Disclosure Ref 2025236 - NHS referral policy for the use of children in state education.doc
Freedom of information disclosure relating to commissioned services within the Trust which have referral policies/criteria which restrict them for the use of pupils in state education
Promotion and Management of Continence for Adult Services Policy (P10)
This policy aims to identify a framework for the standards of care and best practice for bladder, bowel and continence promotion. The range of multidisciplinary professionals involved in continence care is diverse, and it is therefore essential that a continence service delivers integrated working practices across organisational and professional boundaries in order to provide effective care and efficient use of resource. The information detailed within this document will assist healthcare professionals who are undertaking a continence assessment and sets the standards of care for patients who present with a bladder or bowel problem. The continence advisory service aims to provide a quality service to all adults registered with a Derbyshire or Derby City GP. People with continence needs should be seen at the most appropriate time by the most appropriate professional. Excellence in continence care (2018) suggests that the initial assessment is best undertaken by staff trained in continence care within in a community setting, the provision of a high-quality assessment is the foundation of high-quality continence care.
Management of Under Nutrition in Adults (G43)
The aim of the guidelines is to ensure effective patient centred oral nutrition support in Derbyshire by promoting a fortified diet and appropriate, effective ONS prescribing.
Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prophylaxis Policy (P8)
Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of avoidable death in the UK. It is estimated that VTE causes in excess of 25,000 potentially preventable deaths per annum in UK hospitals – five times the estimated number of deaths each year from hospital-acquired infection. In the UK as a whole this figure is approximately 60,000 preventable deaths each year (DH, 2007). The implementation of evidence based guidelines first published by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 2010 focussing on the prevention of VTE in hospitalised patients has been afforded a high priority by the Department of Health and commissioners. VTE risk assessment is a former national CQUIN indicator and is a National Quality Requirement in the NHS Standard Contract for 2019/20 (NHSE, 2019). It sets a threshold rate of 95% of adult inpatients being risk assessed for VTE on admission each month. This policy and the accompanying clinical documentation will enable clinicians to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with this VTE through screening patients admitted for day surgery or inpatient care and those attending Minor Injury Unit / Urgent Treatment Centres, educating patients and carers about preventative measures, initiating prophylactic treatment and recognising signs of VTE development.
Transcribing Medicines including Insulin for Patients in their Own Homes (Including Care Homes) and within the Short Breaks Service SOP (S29)
This procedure sets out how to record medicine administration, which will make use of transcribing as detailed in the above document.
Inpatient Falls Prevention and Management Policy (P33)
The Trust’s aim is to prevent harm resulting from in-patient falls by assessing each patient individually and identifying their risk in order to develop a care plan to reduce these risks. There is an expectation that clinicians will use the policy framework within everyday practice within DCHS. DCHS Inpatient services are part of the DCHS Falls and Fracture Prevention framework which contributes towards the wider Derbyshire and Derby City Falls and Fracture Prevention Pathway in identifying and managing patients who are at risk of falls in hospital and onwards as part of discharge plans and communication. This policy incorporates guidance from the: - • NICE CG161(2013) “Falls: the assessment and prevention of falls in older people • National Patient Safety Agency (2011) on “Essential care after an inpatient fall” • NICE (2015) on “Head Injury: assessment and early management” The purpose of this policy is to support staff to identify patients who are at risk of falling and to identify the interventions required to reduce the risk of falls and minimise harm to each individual. This policy also provides guidance on how to implement the NICE Quality standards (2015) ‘Assessment after a fall and preventing further falls’
Was Not Brought - Did Not Attend - No Access Visit Policy (P88)
The purpose of this document is to outline the responsibilities of Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust (DCHS) staff when parents/carers disengage from health services and there are concerns about the welfare of children and adults in their care. Laming (2003) and learning from serious case reviews and safeguarding adult reviews show that disengagement from healthcare may be partial, intermittent, persistent or terminal in nature. It is widely acknowledged that ‘was not brought’/‘non-attendance’ and avoidance of seeing health staff can be a sign that things are not as they should be within the family and/or person’s life. This may have serious consequences for some children and adults dependent on others to meet their care and support needs. It may also signal potential abuse or neglect. It is imperative that early non engagement with services is identified in order for health practitioners to consider if this is a safeguarding concern that requires a safeguarding referral, safety planning or escalation.
DCHS PSED Report 2019-2020.pdf
DCHS Public Sector Equality Duty Report 2019-2020
Financial wellbeing and support - DCHS
Financial wellbeing and support - DCHS v2, includes useful contact details for support and advice agencies