The Being Open Framework has been developed by the Department of Health to strengthen openness, honesty, and transparency across Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland. It aims to support a culture where staff, patients, service users, families, and carers can communicate openly, feel listened to, and work together to improve safety and the quality of care.
The Framework sets out how organisations and staff can embed routine openness, support continuous learning, and respond compassionately and transparently when things go wrong. It also highlights the leadership, governance, and cultural conditions needed to create a safe and supportive environment for everyone involved in care.
These resources provide a clear picture of how the HSC system will work together to build a more open, learning-focused, and compassionate culture.
