This Governance Framework for Delegation website is not final and should not be read as accurate or complete. The information is accessible for the purpose of targeted engagement and consultation only, which will take place over the next 12 weeks – the content will change to reflect the feedback. Work is ongoing regarding Direct Payments and Classroom support for health care interventions.
The Healthcare Delegation in Practice Governance Framework for Nurses and Midwives supports safe delegation and collaborative working across health and care services in Northern Ireland. It enables nurses, midwives, colleagues, and people receiving care to work together to achieve the Right Care, delivered by the Right Person, at the Right Time and in the Right Place, helping people live well in the most appropriate setting.
Accountability: You and the Law
The RCN Accountability and Delegation: A Guide for the Nursing Team highlights that healthcare providers must meet legal requirements and employees must fulfil their contractual responsibilities. Registered practitioners are also accountable to their professional regulators for maintaining standards of practice and patient care.
All practitioners, including support workers, healthcare assistants, assistant practitioners, students, nurses, and doctors, owe a duty of care where their actions or omissions could reasonably cause harm. This duty applies to all aspects of care, from routine support to highly complex procedures.
Practitioners must work within their competence and promptly escalate concerns when they are unable to carry out a task/intervention safely or perform competently.
