Welcome to the CREST Website
Guidelines and Audit Implementation Network (GAIN)
CREST has now amalgamated with the Regional Multiprofessional Audit Group (RMAG) and the Northern Ireland Audit Advisory Committee (NIRAAC) to form a single clinical and social care regional audit and guidelines body for Northern Ireland.This new single entity is known as the Guidelines and Audit Implementation Network (GAIN)
Role and Function of GAIN
GAIN will have an important safety and quality improvement role in Health & Social Care Services throughout Northern Ireland through the commissioning of regional audit and guidelines as well as the promotion of good practice through the dissemination of audit results,and the publication and facilitation of implementation of regional guidelines.
Under this new arrangement,regional audits will be commissioned by GAIN. There will also be a programme of regional guidelines development. Topic selection criteria for both regional audit and guidelines will shortly be disseminated by GAIN. However, it is anticipated that the focus will be on alignment of regional guidelines / audits to:
- - regional priorities
- identified local gaps, especially those where no national guidelines / audits are available (or imminent) ,and / or
- specific regional safety or high risk issues that have been highlighted through various local and national systems and procedures.
Membership
GAIN consists of a Strategic and Operational Committee. In order to manage the transition in 2007 /08 and build on the previous experience and expertise of NIRAAC and CREST , the Strategic Committee of GAIN will be chaired by Dr Tom Trinick, Consultant Clinical Pathologist in the South East HSC Trust, with the Vice Chair being Dr David Stewart,formerly Chairman of CREST and Director of Public Health in the EHSSB and now Medical Director of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.
The operational Committee will be chaired by Professor Robin Davidson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist,in Belfast HSC Trust. Professor Davidson brings extensive previous experience from both CREST and RMAG committees.
The remit of the Strategic Committee is to be " a representative multidisciplinary team to promote leadership in safety and quality care through the development and integration of regional guidelines and audit and their implementation ". The Strategic Committee will determine the work programme of GAIN. In doing so , they will take into consideration primary community and secondary care proposals against specific criteria. In addition the Committee will also consider other sources of information and learning , such as National Sentinel Audits , Confidential Inquiry findings and standards in specific Service Frameworks .
The Operational Committee's remit is to " Commission , monitor , evaluate , and disseminate regional audits and guidelines " . These will be based on recommendations from the Strategic Committee which will be endorsed by the Department of Health , Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS).
Outstanding Work programme of CREST
In 2007/08 the existing CREST work programme will continue; however all topics will need to be completed as soon as possible so that transitional arrangements can be put in place in 2007/08,including a new system for topic selection to inform the work programme for 2008/09 onwards.
Accountability
For the next 12 - 18 months the DHSSPS will act as the GAIN sponsor, with GAIN reporting to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer via the Safety, Quality and Standards Directorate. This position will be reviewed in 2008/09. It will take account of the experience derived from the first year of the GAIN programme and future changes in HSC structures.
