National guidance on System Quality Groups (National Quality Board, v1, 21 January 2022)

Summary

This guidance provides further clarity to guide the development of quality governance arrangements in integrated care systems (ICSs), particularly System Quality Groups (SQGs), which all ICSs must have.

• It sets out the National Quality Board’s requirements for quality governance in ICSs.
• Provides model terms of reference for SQGs and place-based meetings.
• Outlines suggested relationships with the integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authority assurance in relation to wider quality governance.
• Provides advice on administrating SQGs, including conflicts of interest.
• Sets out key principles for the approach to risk management within SQGs. This will be supplemented by further NHS England and NHS Improvement guidance on risk response and escalation, due in early 2022.  

See also the National Quality Board's Position Statement: Managing Risks and Improving Quality through Integrated Care Systems