First NHS Trust Achieves Clinical Research Site Workforce Quality Accreditation

London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust Achieves IAOCR WQA Bronze Award

Maidenhead, United Kingdom, 3 December 2019 – The first NHS Trust has been awarded IAOCR’s Clinical Research Site Workforce Quality Accreditation (WQA) bronze level, establishing a clinical research benchmark for all NHS Trusts. London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust was awarded the accreditation following an in depth assessment against the internationally-recognised quality standards. WQA is an independent quality mark demonstrating their dedication to delivering excellence.

The Trust evidenced a clear best-in-class approach for clinical research workforce practices, setting new standards for NHS clinical research sites. One of the defining factors demonstrated by the Trust was that patients are a key motivator behind the team striving for continual improvement and wanting to work to best practice standards.

The WQA Foundation and Bronze award assessed the Trust’s entire Research & Development Department in the areas of all delivery, governance and pharmacy and radiology. IAOCR, the International Accrediting Organization for Clinical Research, has previously awarded Internationally Qualified Clinical Research Professional status to individuals within the NHS. However, London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust is the first to achieve organizational-level accreditation.

The official presentation took place on Friday, 15 November, 2019, at the Trust’s Annual Excellence in Research & Development Award Day, demonstrating the importance of the Award to the Trust in embedding best practices and attracting clinical research. John Mellelieu, Director Clinical Services, Allergan joined Jacqueline Johnson North, CEO of IAOCR to present the award.

“It was inspiring to hear about great research being conducted by London North West University Hospital Healthcare NHS Trust and I congratulate the Research and Development team in being the first NHS site to achieve IAOCR Workforce Quality Accreditation,” remarks John Mellelieu, Director of Clinical Services at Allergan. “This organisation is clearly committed to excellence and I’m looking forward to exploring how we can work together to bring new opportunities and better outcomes forpatients.”

“We found the Research & Development Department at London excelled in all of the assessment areas. Having worked with a lot of organizations, I can confidently say that what we have seen evidenced here is above and beyond expectations! It was one of the quickest and most efficient WQA assessments we have conducted.” explained Jacqueline Johnson North, Chief Executive, IAOCR “We are already in discussion with a number of NHS Trusts looking to achieve WQA in 2020. We are looking forward to helping these Trusts bring innovative new treatments to patients through the attraction of commercial clinical trials.”

The Workforce Quality Accreditation program was developed in collaboration with industry experts in response to demand from sponsors for a recognition mark that enables easy identification of organisations with embedded workforce quality best practices. To achieve the Foundation and Bronze level accreditation, organisations must evidence they have accurate job descriptions, employees have access to core training for technical skills required to conduct quality clinical research, and robust and systematic performance management system need to be in place. Furthermore, organisation must demonstrate a proven “red flag” system for identifying and addressing lack of competence in high risk areas – patient safety, data integrity and business critical areas.

IAOCR Internationally Qualified Professional status is a Regulated Accreditation awarded to clinical research professionals that have demonstrated their competence and provides reassurance to patients, sponsors and employers. This accreditation is mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education Framework developed by UNESCO.

To learn more about how IAOCR can assess your organisation for WQA or individuals for Internationally Qualified Professional status get in touch: info@iaocr.com or call us on US Toll Free : +1 (855) 209-2335 or UK/International : +44 1628 784906.

To learn more about IAOCR please visit www.IAOCR.com or call:

• International: +44 1628 784906

• US Toll Free: +1 855 209-2335

• UK: 01628 784906

  For further press information please contact: Jen Husdan on pr@iaocr.co.uk ###

  Notes to editors

  About IAOCR

  IAOCR is the international accrediting organization for clinical research. We are the only organization in the world to Qualify Clinical Research Professionals to international standards. Through robustly accrediting the competence IAOCR reduces risk - to patients, clinical research and organizations - whilst improving compliance and bringing drugs to market quicker.

  IAOCR business processes and accreditations have been built specifically for the clinical research industry. They provide a quality mark to organizations committed to globally consistent, high quality clinical trials workforces.

  We believe that clinical trial patients anywhere in the world deserve the best protection in terms of rights and wellbeing. Therefore, in addition to providing accreditation, training and consultancy services, IAOCR works with industry leaders and regulators around the globe to develop best practice guidelines and frameworks that are freely available to everyone. To find out more about the best practice initiatives visit http://iaocr.com/resources/