Contribute to the National Indicator Landscape
Call for Methodology Review Group (MRG) members
The Indicator and Methodology Assurance Service (IMAS) quality assures health and care-related indicators, using clear and well defined criteria to promote clarity and consistency. In doing this, the service helps avoid instances where more than one indicator, each using different underlying data or methodologies, report on the same process or outcome to the same audience. The overarching aim of the service is to ensure transparency in indicator development and to create a national ‘Library of Quality Assured Indicators’. This aligns with meeting the statutory requirement of providing a system-wide resource in which users can find indicators assessed for their robustness and quality.
We are looking for statistical, methodological or epidemiological experts with an interest in nationally used health and care indicators to join the Methodology Review Group.
MRG appraise indicator methodologies using clear and transparent criteria. The role of the group is to:
- appraise the methodology of proposed new and existing indicators
- consider the validity, construct and statistical methodology of the indicator, with reference to the rationale
- consider advice given by peer reviewers
- ensure multiplicity of indicators is avoided
- ensure the proposed methodology is consistent with other indicators
- provide clear recommendations
- recommend the progression of indicators to the Indicator Governance Board (IGB).
The summary appraisal by the MRG is escalated to the Indicator Governance Board (IGB); a system-wide board which assesses whether the indicator meets the minimum quality threshold to be included in the Library of Quality Assured Indicators. The Library acts as a valuable resource for indicators that are methodologically sound and based on common understanding.
Placeholders for Methodology Review Group meetings are scheduled for every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month; however, they are only run subject to demand. The meetings are currently two hours long; nonetheless members are asked to have appraised the applications before the meeting. Meeting papers are sent out 5 working days ahead of the meeting to enable members to do this.
Meetings are held in HSCIC buildings in Leeds (usually Vantage House) and Skipton House, London. It is also possible to dial in to the meetings.
For anyone interested in joining the Methodology Review Group or anyone wanting more information about the Group, please email the IMAS team at [email protected] or visit our webpages at https://www.hscic.gov.uk/article/1674/Indicator-Assurance-Service.