Quality framework for residential care in long-term mental health care submitted to the Dutch Healthcare Institute this month

The completion of the quality framework is an important milestone for the more than twenty organizations that have worked on this in a constructive manner since the start of the project group in May 2023. The framework will be submitted to the Netherlands Healthcare Institute this month. It assesses whether the quality framework meets the criteria of their assessment framework and can be registered in the appropriate register. After approval, the quality framework is expected to come into effect from July 1, 2024.

The Mental Healthcare Residential Care Quality Framework provides a clear guideline for appropriate residential care

The framework provides a clear description of the quality of residential care in long-term mental health care for clients with a Wlz mental health care indication. It provides tools and direction on what good, appropriate residential care is. The wishes and needs of a client are the starting point for residential care, but this can conflict with the (financial) possibilities, the norms and values, the principles of the Long-term Care Act or the safety of society. The aim of the quality framework is a shared vision (of client, loved one, (care) professional, care organization and financiers) on what good residential care in long-term mental health care is and how to work together to provide appropriate care.

The quality framework has been created for everyone who deals with long-term mental health care:

• Clients and their loved ones will find clarity here about what their care entails.
• Healthcare professionals use it to learn, develop, reflect and improve together.
• Healthcare organizations have a tool to shape, evaluate and use the quality of care in discussions with healthcare offices.
• The healthcare offices use it as a framework for purchasing and contracting.
• The inspectorate applies the quality framework as an assessment framework.

The Mental Healthcare Residential Care Quality Framework is supplementary to existing guidelines and care standards

Many aspects of quality of care are already described in legislation and regulations, guidelines, care standards and generic modules, which also apply to clients within the Wlz GGZ. Organizations make use of this. This quality framework focuses on residential care, for which there was no description yet. The demand for a quality framework for long-term mental health care has existed for some time, but until now there was no common picture available of what good quality of care is. That shared image now exists.

Start implementation from July 1

The quality framework will be submitted to the Dutch Healthcare Institute for assessment this month. We expect that, after assessment by the Healthcare Institute, the framework will be registered and published on July 1.