First NHS trust achieves industry leading WQA Gold Standard
RDaSH is the first NHS trust to achieve this standard.
The gold level achievement signifies an organisation that works consistently to the highest-global standards across the entire workforce with solid frameworks in place - it is awarded after an in-depth assessment, gap analysis and accreditation process.
The assessment demonstrated that the Grounded Research Team’s operations at RDaSH are underpinned with excellent workforce quality processes, both in terms of documentation and workforce’s awareness of them. Key focus areas for the assessment were organisational competence standards, staff engagement, and mental health and wellbeing.
The WQA accreditation was selected as the assessment of choice by RDaSH because it is the only framework focused on robustly and independently determining whether a clinical research organisation has rigorous processes to ensure a positive culture for staff, whilst providing reassurance that clinical trial participants are in safe hands.
“We are thrilled to have achieved the gold award! It has been such a positive experience working with the IAOCR team” explains Jodie Keyworth, Head of Business Development, Grounded Research at RDaSH.
“Having the quality of our workforce and processes externally assessed is really important to us – it’s vital that we are open and that we hold ourselves up to scrutiny. We really wanted to show the positive culture at Grounded Research to the wider clinical research community - this Gold Accreditation award will help us do that, as well as recognising all the hard work and dedication of our team.
“Finally, the IAOCR process showed us the areas where we have the opportunity to improve - I know our team are keen to accomplish this so we can remain a provider of high-quality research for all of our communities and can continue to make a real difference to patients’ lives.”
The assessment process took three months and involved an in-depth analysis of the processes, plans and culture that Grounded Research operates within.
WQA was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders from pharmaceutical companies, CROs, not-for-profit organisations and other leaders within the clinical research industry to help address the clinical research talent crisis and create a ‘workforce of excellence’ for the clinical research industry.
“From start to finish of the assessment process, RDaSH was very impressive and clearly operating at an excellent standard. There was a clear commitment to demonstrate the high-quality processes, standards and competent workforce,” summarises Jacqueline Johnson North, CEO, IAOCR. “The RDaSH Grounded Research team recognises the positive values and environment that have been created by the leadership team, which demonstrates an exemplary work culture. This is why we run the WQA - to identify top performing clinical research organisations and set them apart as a benchmark; other organisations, both within and outside the NHS, should be aspiring to meet this standard.”
The WQA Bronze, Silver and Gold Standards provide a structured pathway for organisational development. Any type of organisation can benefit from WQA, however the framework was developed in collaboration with clinical research industry experts from around the globe to address some of the specific challenges faced by the clinical research industry – staff engagement and retention, workforce competence at an organisational level, and mental health and wellbeing (the latter being added in response to changing ways of work necessitated by the pandemic).
Solid foundations in these areas are key to the success of any organisation and help to ensure supply chain quality, workforce competence and engagement, and clinical trial participant safety. Ultimately a high quality workforce reduces risk to clinical trial patients and the research itself. Companies and sites achieving the WQA standard benefit from improved capacity, performance and more streamlined processes as a result of globally consistent workforce-quality processes that strengthen quality, efficiency and effectiveness.
To learn more about the Grounded Research team and portfolio please visit: //rdash.nhs.uk/about-us/grounded-research or call: 03000 212 456.
To learn more about IAOCR, the Workforce Quality Accreditation (WQA) and how we can support your business please visit iaocr.com; get in touch via email: [email protected] or call:
- International: +44 1628 784906
- US Toll Free: +1 855 209-2335
- UK: 01628 784906
For further press information please contact: Jen Husdan on [email protected].
