Developing literacy and numeracy for safe, effective healthcare

Patient safety, quality and productivity are at risk if staff cannot communicate effectively, or have inadequate numeracy skills. 

    

Skills for Health’s new Literacy and Numeracy Initial Assessment Tools enable you to assess the literacy and numeracy skill levels of staff which allows you to monitor and control risks and supports effective staff development

The tools are easy to use and are based on the literacy and numeracy skills needed to work in the sector. The questions have been contextualised for a range of healthcare settings to make the situations familiar and the assessment as relevant as possible.

Benefits

• reduce the risk of errors in patient care for example around drug calculations
• address staff development needs
• support staff to communicate safely and develop numeracy skills appropriate to their role
• monitor the literacy and numeracy of your current employees, and identify areas of risk and areas for development
• improve efficiency, productivity and the quality of service provision
• support your organisation’s Skills Pledge commitment
• increase staff confidence and help them prepare for progression and future career development.

• Initial assessment tools These free-to-use online tools are suitable for use throughout the UK and offer healthcare providers new resources with which to support staff to develop their literacy and numeracy skills and, ultimately, deliver better patient care.