There are three keys areas of work associated with Quality Review Visits (QRVs) - 

1. Self Assessment

The Self Assessment is an opportunity for each clinical team to demonstrate and reflect on areas of good practice and to highlight areas for improvement.

Team leaders have three months to complete the quarterly Self Assessment on Audit Management and Tracking (AMaT).

Click on the Self Assessments tile below to find out more.

2. QRV Accreditation

QRVs take place in each of the clinical services we provide. 

Each service will usually have at least one QRV each year. More frequent QRVs may take place if it’s felt that the service needs further support.

Our QRVs aim to provide assurance about the Trust’s standards and levels of compliance within practice. The QRV process is supportive, identifying positive practices and challenges early on so we can provide timely, targeted support and help teams to be best they can.

From 1 July 2024, teams will be accredited as Good if rated in their QRV as Good overall, and teams will be accredited as Good Plus if rated in their QRV as Good Plus overall.

Click on the QRV Accreditation tile below to find out more.

Note: Changes to the QRVs template - as part of continuous improvement to practices, we are raising standards and aiming for teams to achieve Good and Good Plus ratings. Our QRV processes are being aligned with the new Care Quality Commission (CQC) approach and updated Trust policies.

  • S1. Learning culture (Safe) – went live 1 June 2024 replacing S1. Incident reporting, including Serious Incidents
  • S3. Safeguarding (Safe) - went live 1 April 2025
  • S8. Medicines optimisation (Safe) - went live 1 April 2025

What does this mean for teams that are due a QRV? The Medicines Management and Safeguarding standards have been updated. From 1 April 2025, the level of evidence and assurance required may make it more challenging to achieve a Good or Good Plus rating in the Safe domain.

Will it be harder to achieve an overall Good or Good Plus QRV rating? The new standards are based on current policies and CQC requirements that all teams should be following as part of their usual practice. We will continue to update the QRV standards and raise the levels of evidence required, and it may be more challenging to achieve an overall Good or Good Plus rating. If you need more information, please email CQCTeam@merseycare.nhs.uk

3. Excelling

A refreshed accreditation process to enhance the established QRV framework commenced 1 July 2024.  Teams rated overall as Good Plus with Good Plus in all 5 key questions of Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well Led will be considered for Excelling status.

Click on the Excelling tile below to find out more.