Purpose
The Inspectorate and Quality Assurance Committee is a subcommittee of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council established to ensure adherence to standards by the Nurses and Midwives, Health facilities and Health Training Institutions to foster the quality of Nursing and Midwifery practices in Uganda.
The committee shall have jurisdiction over all issues of quality nature and shall have exclusive authority to decide whether an issue submitted for its decision is within its competence as defined by law.
It is the duty of all the other committees to respect and observe the decisions reached until they are submitted to full council for approval.
Members/Composition and Functions of the Committees
The membership of this Committee is constituted by the Council at its first meeting after appointment by the Minister provided that the Registrar shall be Secretary on all Committees.
Composition
The Committee shall be composed of at least five (5) members one of whom will be elected as the Chair as follows;
- The chairperson, selected from the Council members who shall preside at all meetings of the committee.
- Two members appointed by the council from among its members.
- One person appointed by Council who shall be from the Education sector to discuss specific areas of concern that lie within their remit.
- Registrar who shall also be a secretary to the committee.
- A co-opted member(s) with relevant experience and expertise in this field.
Term
The term of office shall be 3 years subject to re-appointment for one further term. Except in exceptional circumstances, members are required to attend at least 3 of the meetings per year.
Competences
Members of this committee shall have the following competences;
- Knowledge of the ethical code of conduct that governs Nurses and Midwives conduct.
- Knowledge of the Nurses and Midwives standards that govern Nursing and Midwifery practice, education and training.
- Guidelines that govern Nurses and Midwives private practice.
- Curriculum for the different levels of Nurses and Midwives.
- Exposed to the Health care delivery and education systems in Uganda.
- Guidelines, protocols and statutory instruments that govern Nurses and Midwives practice and training.
- Ability to role model quality in their areas of employment.
- Knowledge and skill on policy guidelines, review and development.
Responsibilities/Roles/Functions of the Inspectorate and Quality Assurance Committee(IAQ)
The Committee shall in close collaboration with the other major stakeholders – Ministries of Health, Education, Science, Technology and Sports, Internal Affairs, Medical Bureaus, Health Training Institutions/facilities, District Health Offices and related Agencies/Organisations handle the following matters delegated by the Council or on which the council requires specific advice;
- Recommend quality standards to Council for approval and advise on areas of improvement.
- Participate in support supervisions of the Nurses and Midwives, Health Training Institutions and Health facilities employing and owned by Nurses and Midwives.
- Evaluate and monitor all inspection programs through representation as technical persons in the activities of the inter-ministerial committee that approves and accredits nurses and Midwives Health Training Institutions.
- Conduct regular surveys to ascertain the quality of inspection being conducted by the council employees and members of the District Supervisory Authorities.
- Discuss inspection reports from Regional and District Supervisory Authorities that require actions of the full council.
- Recommend to the council specific training needs of inspectors that would facilitate effective inspection of health units.
- Ensure that inspection records are properly maintained for references.
- Inspect all teaching and non-teaching hospitals.
- Supervise the activities of the IQA department and monitor its performance.
- Discuss the performance of IQA department and advice on areas of improvement.
- Participate in review and development of tools, guidelines, policies and checklists used by the Council to ensure quality of Nurses and Midwives practice and training.
- Perform any other function as may be referred to by council from time to time.
Additional powers of the committee-
- The Committee is authorized by the Council to investigate any activity within its terms of reference.
- It is authorized to seek any additional information it requires from any employee and all employees are directed to co-operate with any request made by the Committee.
- The Committee is authorized by the Council to obtain legal or other independent professional advice and to secure the attendance of outsiders with relevant experience and expertise if it considers this necessary.