Development and piloting of quality indicators National Collaborating Centre for Indicator Development

NICE has managed an independent and transparent process for developing and maintaining Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators since April 2009. In 2011 our remit was extended to include Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) level indicators and in 2019 we were asked to work in partnership with NHS Digital to host and assure the national library of quality indicators.

The indicators developed or assured by NICE are added to an indicator menu (https://www.nice.org.uk/Standards-and-Indicators/index). The menu contains 338 indicators on different topics. Some indicators are included in national frameworks, e.g., QOF, CCG Outcome Indicator Set (CCG OIS), NHS System Oversight (CCG SOF). Indicators can also be used by any organisation for use in local or national quality improvement schemes

Whilst NICE's work to date has focused on indicators that operate at general practice level (predominantly indicators suitable for use in the QOF) and CCG indicators for inclusion in national frameworks, NICE anticipates future indicator work will have a wider scope.

Our scope will now extend to development of indicators at a system level to support the newer organisational structures in the NHS including integrated care systems and primary care networks.The way in which NICE develops indicators has changed over recent years and we continue to look for innovative ways to maintain robust and rigorous processes whilst being responsive and flexible. The cycle of development needs to be flexible to react to emerging priorities identified as the challenges facing the health and social care system change. NICE is also changing how it delivers guidance moving towards living guidelines for learning health and care systems with indicators being fundamental to measurement of outcomes and enabling feedback to NICE which will help influence guidance updates.

The appointed contractor will be expected to work with NICE to deliver this requirement.