Implementing NICE public health
guidance for the workplace:
Implementation and audit action
planning toolkit
Health and Work Development Unit
2011
A. How to implement NICE
guidance
The aim of this section is to outline the
theory behind implementing NICE
guidance.
There are six key components to a
successful implementation process:
1. Clear leadership and board support.
2. An individual or group responsible for
implementing guidance.
3. Support from a multidisciplinary team.
4. A systematic approach to resource & financial
planning.
5. A systematic approach to implementing guidance.
6. A process to evaluate implementation and feed
back.
1. Clear leadership and board
support
Effective leadership and a culture of continuous
improvement are vital for the successful
implementation of guidance.
Ultimate responsibility for the implementation of NICE
guidance is with a chief executive but this is often
devolved to other board members.
Who is your board representative and is (s)he aware
of your audit participation and implementation work?
2. An individual or group responsible
for implementing guidance
Their responsibilities may include:
• identifying and disseminating guidance to the
multidisciplinary team and arranging educational
events
• horizon scanning and forward planning
• ensuring effective processes for monitoring and
feeding back
• producing regular implementation reports including
review of activities and progress.
Do you have a dedicated lead for this? Is everyone in
the team aware?
3. Support from a multidisciplinary
team
The team should work with the individual
indentified before to:
• reduce duplication of work
• ensure compliance with the
recommendations for employers in the NICE
guidance
• ensure that effective review and monitoring
arrangements are in place
• ensure that forward planning occurs.
4. A systematic approach to
resource & financial planning
• Consider all financial and other resource
implications of your plans. You may need to develop
and submit a business case or build activities into
next year’s financial planning.
• Plans should detail resources required and
associated cost.
• Teams could specify the process for negotiating
funding between commissioners and providers of
any required services.
• You may consider all sources of funding – routinely
allocated, charitable funds etc.
5. A systematic approach to
implementing guidance
• This pack will take you through the steps to
action plan implementation activities later in
the meeting.
• Audit is a tool to ensure a systematic and
structured approach to continuous
improvement.
• Please refer to the NICE website for further
information, if required.
6. A process to evaluate
implementation and feedback
Effective models of implementation
incorporate evaluation, audit and feed back to
the board.
To whom do you feed back within your
organisation? Who is your board member?
REVIEW
• Which of these six components do
you do well?
• On which could you improve?
Make a note for later as this will inform
your action planning.