National Learning Report. Giving families a voice: HSIB’s approach to patient and family engagement during investigations (17 September 2020)

Summary

In this latest report, the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) has outlined their approach to working with patients and families with the aim of sharing that learning across the healthcare sector.

They have set out their experiences so that other organisations can reflect on how it may be applicable to their work. The report not only covers HSIB's principles and process for effective family engagement, but also how they evaluated the approach using feedback from families involved in investigations.

HSIB’s process for effective family engagement has been developed through close collaboration with families who have been involved in investigations.

HSIB recognises that there is currently no national framework or process to assist those working with families during investigations. In the report foreword, HSIB’s Chief Investigator, Keith Conradi says: “in the past decade, the healthcare sector has recognised the need to ensure it works with patients and families…however it is also recognised that undertaking family engagement of a high quality can be challenging, particularly when the guidance on how to do it is limited.”

The report also highlights some possible future developments, which includes a long-term aim of producing formal family engagement guidance which will be shared externally for organisations to access and use.