Introduction

Developing an information standard normally takes between 9 and 12 months. Implementation can take 1 – 3 years. The assurance and approval by the ISB is conducted alongside this. Due to the investment required it is only suitable where the scope of the change will occur nationally and where there is a clear consensus on how to achieve the change.

Developing an information standard involves:

• Identifying the business need and agreeing it with those impacted by the information standard. This is normally underpinned by a business case.
• Developing a precise definition of what is required in order that there is no ambiguity or confusion. This includes considering information governance, how it is to be implemented, burden and clinical safety.
• Testing the information standard to ensure that it works as expected.
• Implementing the information standard into health and social care and then maintaining it until it is no longer required.
• Managing the retirement of the information standard.

Approval of the information standard unfortunately does not remove the need to manage its implementation.

Method

Standards are normally produced using the development methodology. This specifies which products must be assessed through an appraisal process to demonstrate that the standard meets the quality criteria. Only after this is done does the standard receive approval.

Developing a successful information standard has to be a collaborative activity.  The development methodology helps to connect all the parties so that development and approval becomes a seamless integrated operation. Each prospective information standard is allocated a standards manager to facilitate the entire operation and they use a structured method specially developed as a framework for health and social care.

We provide a set of collaborative tools, templates through a secure SharePoint area. You will be provided with an account as part of the standards development process. We also have guidance on the composition and structure of the standard and some real-life examples.