Next Event: DSPT In-Depth - Policies & Procedures

View Event

Search Digital Care Hub

FAQs

Section 1: Introduction

1. Scope of the Guidance

The guidance in this document has been extracted and abbreviated from the NHS Records Management Code of Practice, which states that:

All organisations and managers need to enable staff to conform to the standards in this Code. This includes identifying organisational changes or other requirements needed to meet the standards, for example, the people, money and correct tools required. Guidance, such as the Data Security and Protection Toolkit, and your own organisational management arrangements will help you identify any necessary changes to your current records management practices.

Those who have responsibilities for monitoring overall performance, like NHS England and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), help ensure effective management systems are in place.

It is relevant to organisations working within, or under contract to, the NHS in England. The Code also applies to adult social care commissioned or delivered by local authorities.

The Code provides a framework for consistent and effective records management based on established standards. It includes guidelines on topics such as legal, professional, organisational and individual responsibilities when managing records. It also advises on how to design and implement a records management system including advice on organising, storing, retaining and deleting records. It applies to all records regardless of the media they are held on. Wherever possible organisations should be moving away from paper towards digital records.

2.