HCPC Interprofessional Working in NHS 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'clinical handover' and what are the key elements of a safe handover?
- Transfer of care responsibility between professionals using a structured communication tool (e.g., SBAR) — including situation, background, assessment, and recommendation (Correct answer)
- An informal verbal summary at shift change
- Handing over equipment at the end of a shift
- A written note placed in the patient's file for retrieval later
Correct answer: Transfer of care responsibility between professionals using a structured communication tool (e.g., SBAR) — including situation, background, assessment, and recommendation
Safe handover is a critical patient safety process. The SBAR tool (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) provides a structured, reproducible format for communicating essential care information between professionals.
Question 2: What does 'professional tribalism' mean in healthcare and why is it a patient safety concern?
- Loyalties to one's own professional group that create communication barriers, undermine teamwork, and result in fragmented or poor patient care (Correct answer)
- Having pride in one's professional skills
- Competition between NHS trusts
- Specialisation in a particular clinical area
Correct answer: Loyalties to one's own professional group that create communication barriers, undermine teamwork, and result in fragmented or poor patient care
Professional tribalism (excessive in-group loyalty) in healthcare can lead to poor communication across professional boundaries, delayed escalation of concerns, and failures in coordinated care — all linked to adverse patient outcomes.
Question 3: What is SBAR and in what situations is it used?
- Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation — a structured communication tool for clinical handover and escalating patient concerns (Correct answer)
- A safeguarding assessment tool
- A medication safety acronym
- An infection control checklist
Correct answer: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation — a structured communication tool for clinical handover and escalating patient concerns
SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) is a structured communication framework widely used in NHS handover, clinical escalation, and inter-professional communication to ensure clear and complete transfer of information.
Question 4: What is the role of a 'key worker' in integrated care for patients with complex needs?
- A named professional coordinating care across multiple services, acting as the primary contact for the patient and ensuring needs are addressed holistically (Correct answer)
- A staff member managing only administrative tasks
- The most senior clinician in the MDT
- A social worker assigned to every patient on admission
Correct answer: A named professional coordinating care across multiple services, acting as the primary contact for the patient and ensuring needs are addressed holistically
Key workers coordinate care for patients with complex, multi-agency needs (e.g., children with EHCPs, adults with long-term conditions). They reduce fragmentation, advocate for the patient, and monitor the care plan.
Question 5: Which professional group typically leads an NHS ward 'daily huddle' or safety briefing?
- The ward manager or senior nurse in most settings, with input from all disciplines (Correct answer)
- Only the consultant physician or surgeon
- An administrative manager
- The infection control team exclusively
Correct answer: The ward manager or senior nurse in most settings, with input from all disciplines
Daily safety huddles are typically led by the ward manager or senior nurse, involving all ward staff to review patient safety concerns, handover risks, and coordinate priorities for the shift.
Question 6: What is 'crew resource management' (CRM) as applied in NHS settings?
- A system of non-technical skills (communication, leadership, situation awareness, decision-making) applied to healthcare teams to improve safety (Correct answer)
- A staffing resource planning tool
- A technology system for managing clinical equipment
- A model for allocating junior doctor rotas
Correct answer: A system of non-technical skills (communication, leadership, situation awareness, decision-making) applied to healthcare teams to improve safety
CRM originated in aviation and has been adapted for healthcare. It focuses on optimising team performance through clear communication, shared situational awareness, assertive challenge, and defined leadership to reduce clinical errors.
HCPC Interprofessional Working in NHS 2
What is 'clinical handover' and what are the key elements of a safe handover?