Leadership V3 EN

HSO's Leadership standards address the growing international demand for clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of health care organizations and their leaders to provide the supports and infrastructure needed to drive excellence and quality improvement in health service delivery. The standards address leadership functions across and throughout all levels of the organization, rather than individual or position-specific capabilities. They clarify the requirements for effective operational and performance management supports, decision-making structures, and infrastructure needed to drive excellence and quality improvement in health service delivery.

The Leadership standards are grouped into five sections that each address a key leadership responsibility that organizations must have in place as part of their pursuit of quality and safety. The five sections are:

• Creating and sustaining a caring culture
• Planning and designing services
• Allocating resources and building infrastructure
• Planning for disasters and emergencies
• Monitoring and improving quality and safety

The approach taken to meet these responsibilities will vary according to the organization's size, structure, and mandate. Some criteria specify that certain responsibilities and activities are carried out in collaboration with the governing body. In organizations where there is no governing body, the organization's leaders take responsibility for these. In some jurisdictions, government may be involved in the operations of the organization and will be responsible for certain activities outlined in these standards. When this is the case, the organization's leaders remain as involved as possible in the process.