• Process Standards
  • 1. Named leads
  • 2. All stakeholders involved
  • 3. Process mapping conducted
  • 4. Implementation linked to care governance structures
  • 5. Training needs assessment conducted
  • 6. Diagnostic information collated
  • 7. Recording and sharing of information
  • 8. Systems for recording and analysing variances developed
  • 9. Referral systems developed

Standard 3: A process mapping exercise is conducted in the early stages of ICP development.

Supporting material for process standard 3:

It is important to carry out a process mapping exercise early on in the ICP development process. Process mapping helps to identify and examine existing journeys of care from the perspective of staff, service users and informal carers. Teams can begin to see where changes or improvements can be made by identifying gaps, overlaps, strengths and weaknesses of current services and processes. This exercise alone can help to build good team working and develop shared goals and responsibilities.

A process mapping exercise should:
- identify current patterns of service delivery and available resources
- examine the journey of care for service users and informal carers
- establish the strengths and weaknesses of current service provision
- quantify demands on the services
- identify the gaps in services
- identify gaps in staff skills and competencies, and
- identify how the journey of care can be improved.

Examples of evidence required to meet standard 3:

- The process maps and associated reports
- Action plans based on the outcome of the process mapping

Useful Resources:

• 1. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. Improvement Leaders' Guides. London: Department of Health, 2002-2004. Series 1: Process mapping, analysis and redesign; Matching capacity and demand; Measurement for improvement
• 2. Scottish Government Improvement Support Team: Improvement Toolkits
• 3. Scottish Government Improvement Support Team: Mental Health Collaborative
• 4. Victorian Quality Council. Process mapping: A guide for health service staff. Melbourne, 2007
• 5. Avery, S M; Bellars, G S and Brinsden, P R. 2003. Process mapping and clinical governance in an assisted conception unit. Clinical Governance Bulletin. Vol 3 No 5, January 2003, pages 2-3.
• 6. Integrated Care Pathway Users in Scotland (ICPUS). A workbook for people starting to develop integrated care pathways. ICPUS; 2007, pages 23-27
• 7. National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare. Integrated care pathways: a guide to good practice. Llanharan, Wales: National Leadership and Innovation Agency for Healthcare; 2005, pages 24-25