Department of Health

Key messages

  • The Partnering for performance policy promotes regular reviews of the clinical performance.
  • The policy is closely aligned with the Victorian clinical governance policy framework.
  • Performance development and support for senior doctors should be closely integrated with health services’ peer review and clinical audit processes.

All senior medical practitioners who work for a public health service in Victoria are required to undergo formal re-credentialling at least once every five years.

The Partnering for performance policy and framework supports the review and evaluation of a doctor’s clinical and professional performance at regular intervals during the credentialling cycle.

It provides guidance to senior doctors and their medical leads (medical directors or unit heads) to assist in identifying areas for improvement, both in their own performance and in the delivery of specific clinical services within their units.

Supporting clinical governance

Partnering for Performance is embedded within the Department of Health & Human Services Credentialling and defining the scope of clinical practice for medical practitioners in Victorian health services policy (2007), and also supports the Victorian clinical governance policy framework (2008).

Clinical governance is the system through which organisations and clinicians share responsibility and accountability for the quality of care. Victoria’s clinical governance policy framework identifies tools and strategies to evaluate and improve the performance of individual doctors, address incidents of underperformance, and manage any clinical incidents or complaints.

Integration with organisational policies

Performance development and support processes for senior doctors should be integrated with an organisation’s peer review and clinical audit processes, and any other organisational or statutory policies that target clinical improvement or service development.

Ongoing support for credentialling should also assist organisations in their attempts to meet regulatory requirements (for example, accreditation) and doctors to meet their continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.

Reviewed 29 October 2021

Health.vic

Contact details

Consumer Partnerships and Quality Standards Department of Health

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