About the framework

This framework has been developed to reflect current policies and best practice to help drive forward excellence in data quality practice and to encourage the use of a range of available methods to improve the administration and practice of data quality.

The framework focuses on enabling organisations’ capability to excel in data quality practice, reviewing technology, skills and education. This is also underpinned by key aspects of leadership and communication. 

The framework is divided into two parts where Part 1 is aimed at organisations needing to establish data quality assurance processes and practices. Part 2 is for those organisations that are looking to build on and improve their existing data quality assurance processes and practices.

Each part of the framework has five sections that look across governance, process and people elements of data quality, along with technology enablers and the measurement of data quality. Each section contains objectives, benefits, best practice and in some instances a case study. 

Each part of the framework contains a set of assurance criteria questions that enable an organisation to self-assess current levels of data quality assurance and identify areas of improvement to focus on. For Part 1 the questions to be answered are:

• Do you have executive management sponsorship for data quality and DQ metrics that are presented to and discussed by the Board?
• Do you have an established process for producing and using data quality reports to improve data quality at source?
• Do you have dedicated data quality roles and / or defined data quality assurance responsibilities for all staff within your organisation?
• Do you have clinical information systems configured in line with all relevant Information Standards to assure the quality of data at source?
• Do you actively use external data quality metrics such as NHS England's Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI) to assess and improve data quality locally?

To assist NHS England in understanding the current level of data quality assurance across provider organisations could anyone using this framework please forward a copy of the completed assurance checklist questions to the Data Quality team mailbox. This information will not be published, it will only be used to identify common areas of DQ assurance requiring improvement. This information can then be used to inform future development of assurance activities and initiatives.