Contract assurance
25.—(1) A contract must contain, in addition to the requirements in Schedule 3, a term requiring contractors to engage with the Local Health Board in the processes outlined in the latest published Assurance Framework by—
(a)providing returns and data, or facilitating the supply of data, as required for management of the contract and to satisfy contract assurance requirements,
(b)as required by the Assurance Framework, engaging with the Local Health Board in formal contract and governance practice review processes,
(c)following each formal contract and governance practice review, producing a Practice Contract and Governance Framework Response Plan to address within an agreed period any concerns raised by the Local Health Board, and
(d)if concerns need to be addressed through the escalation ladder levels of the Assurance Framework, working positively with the Local Health Board to resolve concerns.
(2) A contract must contain a term requiring the Local Health Board to follow the processes and take account of the principles outlined in the latest published Assurance Framework by—
(a)using the Assurance Framework’s nationally agreed indicators together with the self-reported assessment from the contractor, to identify the priorities in the contract assurance and governance process,
(b)determining the nature and depth of the formal contract and governance practice review taking account of the priorities identified in the contract assurance and governance process,
(c)engaging and working positively with the contractor to resolve concerns,
(d)giving verbal feedback to the contractor during the visit, including any requirements for the contractor to address any immediate concerns,
(e)sending written feedback in a Contract and Governance Visit Report to the contractor within 20 working days of the visit,
(f)evaluating a Practice Contract and Governance Framework Response Plan within 20 working days of receipt,
(g)agreeing any date for follow up with the contractor, including to review whether any immediate concerns had been addressed satisfactorily, and
(h)notifying the contractor if concerns need to be addressed through use of the escalation ladder levels of the Assurance Framework.