Clinical Excellence Awards (CEAs) are intended to financially reward consultants who perform over and above the standard expected of their role. Consultants who can demonstrate that they’re delivering safe, high quality services - that are improving - will be most likely to succeed.
There are 12 levels of award. Levels one to eight are awarded locally on the recommendation of an employer-based committee. Levels ten to 12 (Silver, Gold and Platinum respectively) are awarded nationally on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA) and its regional sub-committees. Level 9 or Bronze can be awarded locally or nationally.
The ACCEA administers the CEA scheme. There are 13 regional ACCEA sub-committees. They are based on the boundaries of the Strategic Health Authorities for the different regions.
The Clinical Excellence Awards scheme has drawn criticism in past from both those who feel the awards do not sufficiently reflect the gender and ethnic composition of the hospital doctor workforce, and those who claim it now positively discriminates.
Clinical Excellence Award amounts
In 2007/2008, a level 1 CEA award for a consultant working ten PAs was worth £2,850 per year, compared to £73,068 for level 12.
Achievements recognised by Clinical Excellence Awards
CEAs are made to consultants who demonstrate the following behaviours:
1. commitment to patient care and wellbeing, or improving public health.
2. sustaining high standards of both technical and clinical aspects of service whilst providing patient-focused care.
3. in their day-to-day practice demonstrate a sustained commitment to the values and goals of the NHS, by participating actively in annual job planning, observing the private practice Code of Conduct and showing a commitment to achieving agreed service objectives.
4. through active participation in clinical governance contribute to continuous improvement in service organisation and delivery.
5. embrace the principles of evidence-based practice.
6. contribute to knowledge base through research and participate actively in research governance, and are recognised as excellent teachers, trainers or managers.
7. contribute to policy-making and planning in health care.
8. make an outstanding contribution to professional leadership.
Consultants do not have to demonstrate all of these behaviours to qualify.
Application process for Clinical Excellence Award
National Clinical Excellence Awards
The application form must be completed online at the ACCEA website. Copies of the form can be downloaded to refine responses before submission. Consultants must register to receive a user ID and a link to enter their password via email.
Then they must follow ACCEA guidance carefully. There is useful step-by-step advice.
Domain sections
The domain sections are of particular importance, giving consultants the opportunity to highlight their achievements over and above contractual obligations. The assessment of the application depends upon it. Consultants must draw attention to the most important examples of work on a local, national or international level. All the domains need to be completed.
Domain one concerns the delivery of a high quality service. Consultants must give evidence of their achievements in delivering a service which is safe, quality assured and where opportunities for improvement are consistently sought and implemented. This could for example cover exemplary standards in delivering professional commitments, dealing with patients or staff, developing clinical governance or performing a leadership role.
Domain two concerns the development of a high quality service. Consultants need to show how they have significantly enhanced clinical effectiveness (quality, safety and cost effectiveness) of local or wider services. Where possible, consultants must give audit or research evidence showing they have improved effective clinical outcomes.
Domain three concerns leadership and managing a high quality service. Consultants need to provide evidence of how they have made a substantial personal contribution to managing a local service, or national or international health policy development. Consultants should also list any posts they have held, including information about any change management programmes that have been led with evidence that it has improved service effectiveness or efficiency.
Domain four concerns research and innovation. This section of the form should be used to outline research aims and activity. This should take up one line. On a separate line, detail what you have achieved to date and what you hope to achieve, with supporting evidence.
Domain five is about teaching and training. For some applicants, teaching and training will form a major part of their contribution to the NHS, over and above contractual obligations. Evidence should be given of excellence that relates to quality of teaching; leadership and innovation in teaching; scholarship, evaluation and research contributing to national or international leadership, including presentations, lectures and publications; institutional success in quality assessment orders; personal commitment to developing teaching skills; significant teaching commitment.
Local Clinical Excellence Awards
Complete the same form. However, rather than filling in the form online, consultants need to download it from the ACCEA website before completing it. They will not need to log-in and complete the form on-line. When all parts of the form have been completed, it should be passed to the trust administrator, along with the employer’s statement if the consultant is including one, plus any citations. Local committees should be familiar with the consultants work and may not need citations when assessing an application so it is optional.
Dos and don’ts of applying for a Clinical Excellence Award
Dos
1. read the available guidance.
2. write names of societies, groups, etc in full.
3. remain within box word limits.
4. use a new line for each entry, giving dates for the activities.
5. on national awards, consultants must specify which trust or organisation they work at so the application is considered by the right sub-committee.
6. save work at least every 20 minutes to avoid running out of time and losing unsaved work.
7. include an employer’s statement and do not submit incomplete forms.
8. consultants should not sign applications electronically, as this may corrupt the forms.
9. consultants must inform ACCEA on the application form of any current or recently concluded complaints against them. ACCEA assumes a doctor is innocent unless proven guilty.
Don’ts
1. don’t change the font or its size when completing your application - they won’t be considered.
2. don’t leave your application until the eleventh hour.
3. don’t canvass locally, it can disqualify the applicant.
4. deliberate falsification can lead to disciplinary action.
Recent recipients of national Clinical Excellence Awards
To see a list of doctors who received a national CEA in 2007 visit:
Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum
Related Clinical Excellence Award content