About the Network

The network has been established in conjunction with the Scottish Clinical Skills Alliance, and plays a key role in implementing the Clinical Skills Strategy for Scotland.

The network operates using core principles adapted from SEHD guidelines (2002) for Managed Clinical Networks, and seeks to provide:

• Clinical leadership
• Common quality standards
• Increased training provision
• Co-ordination of Research and Development priorities
• Synergy with the National Patient Safety Alliance

The network operates through three regional consortia, co-ordinated by Regional Champions.

Long term outcomes of the Managed Educational Network are:

Benefits for Scotland:

• International reputation as leader in multi-professional education: valuing the providers
• Established multi-professional skills: better value for money
• Patient safety: reduction in adverse events

Benefits for Patients:

• Better experience through consistent, safe standards of clinical skills delivered by whoever, for whatever, wherever required at the right time

Medium term outcomes of the Managed Educational Network are:

Benefits for Health Care Practitioners:

• Consistent quality standards for skills practised
• Multi-professional access to standard skills training
• Equity of geographical access to skills education
• Added value
• Recognised system of standards
• Explicit skills audit process established
• Research evidence base on clinical skills education

Outcomes for year 1 of the Network (October 2007 to October 2008) were:

• Outcome 1: Identification of priorities for standard multi-professional skills
• Outcome 2: Development of explicit quality assurance system
• Outcome 3: Establishment of a system of reporting and dissemination
• Outcome 4: Development of the network
• Outcome 5: Development and planning of pilot of mobile clinical skills unit to deliver simulation based education to remote and rural settings in Scotland

Outcomes for year 2 of the Network (October 2008 to October 2009) were:

• Outcome 1: Addressing priorities for standard multi-professional skills
• Outcome 2: Implementation of explicit quality assurance system
• Outcome 3: Development of the network
• Outcome 4: Pilot of mobile clinical skills unit to deliver simulation based education to remote and rural settings in Scotland
• Outcome 5: Working towards better value-for-money in clinical skills education

For more information on our outcomes for year 3 and current Key Performance Indicators, see 'Outcomes'