HCPC Interprofessional Working in NHS 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'integrated care' mean in the NHS context?
- Coordinated, person-centred care that breaks down organisational and professional silos to address health, social, and mental health needs holistically (Correct answer)
- Hospital care only
- Private and NHS care delivered in the same building
- Electronic health records shared between providers
Correct answer: Coordinated, person-centred care that breaks down organisational and professional silos to address health, social, and mental health needs holistically
Integrated care connects health, social care, mental health, and community services around the needs of the individual, reducing fragmentation, duplication, and gaps, and improving outcomes for people with complex needs.
Question 2: What is 'shared decision-making' and how does it relate to interprofessional working?
- A process where clinicians and patients collaborate to make treatment decisions, drawing on clinical expertise and patient preferences — supported by a well-coordinated MDT (Correct answer)
- Doctors making all decisions collaboratively with each other
- A process of distributing prescribing authority among team members
- An administrative process for booking appointments
Correct answer: A process where clinicians and patients collaborate to make treatment decisions, drawing on clinical expertise and patient preferences — supported by a well-coordinated MDT
Shared decision-making (SDM) places the patient at the centre of care decisions. A well-functioning MDT supports SDM by providing joined-up clinical assessment and options, communicated coherently to the patient.
Question 3: What is the Francis Report (2013) and what was its significance for interprofessional working?
- An inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust scandal identifying failures in communication, culture, and accountability across professions as major contributory factors to patient harm (Correct answer)
- A report on NHS computer system failures
- A review of medical school training
- A report on GP funding models
Correct answer: An inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust scandal identifying failures in communication, culture, and accountability across professions as major contributory factors to patient harm
The Francis Report into Mid Staffs found a culture of poor communication, tribalism, failure to raise concerns, and inadequate accountability between professions. It led to major reforms in NHS culture and interprofessional practice.
Question 4: Which NHS document sets out the duty of NHS providers to engage in 'Freedom to Speak Up'?
- The Freedom to Speak Up Review (Robert Francis, 2015) and subsequent NHS policy establishing Speaking Up Guardians (Correct answer)
- The NHS Constitution 2009 alone
- The Caldicott Framework only
- The Mental Health Act Code of Practice
Correct answer: The Freedom to Speak Up Review (Robert Francis, 2015) and subsequent NHS policy establishing Speaking Up Guardians
The 2015 Freedom to Speak Up Review led to establishment of Speaking Up Guardians in NHS trusts. Staff have a protected right to raise patient safety concerns without fear of retaliation.
Question 5: What is 'psychological safety' in healthcare teams and why does it matter?
- A team environment where members feel safe to speak up, raise concerns, admit mistakes, and suggest ideas without fear of humiliation or punishment — critical for patient safety culture (Correct answer)
- Individual mental health support for clinical staff
- A risk assessment for lone working
- An occupational health assessment framework
Correct answer: A team environment where members feel safe to speak up, raise concerns, admit mistakes, and suggest ideas without fear of humiliation or punishment — critical for patient safety culture
Research (Amy Edmondson) shows that psychologically safe teams report more errors, learn faster, and deliver better patient outcomes. Fear of speaking up in unsafe teams allows errors to compound and go uncorrected.
Question 6: What is 'social prescribing' and which NHS professionals are typically involved?
- Linking patients with non-clinical community services to address social determinants of health — typically facilitated by Social Prescribing Link Workers within PCNs, supported by GPs, nurses, and AHPs (Correct answer)
- Prescribing medications based on social circumstances
- A charity-run counselling service
- Prescribing exercise programmes by physiotherapists only
Correct answer: Linking patients with non-clinical community services to address social determinants of health — typically facilitated by Social Prescribing Link Workers within PCNs, supported by GPs, nurses, and AHPs
Social prescribing connects patients with community activities, peer support, and social services to address factors like loneliness, housing, and lifestyle. PCN Social Prescribing Link Workers coordinate referrals from GPs and AHPs.
HCPC Interprofessional Working in NHS 3
What does 'integrated care' mean in the NHS context?