Standards & accreditation

Experience of care standards

Anchored in the eight Picker Principles of Person Centred Care, our standards provide clear criteria for assessment and a structured pathway towards accreditation. We focus on a different aspects of person centred care, from how it is integrated to the capabilities of the workforce and the way experience data is used.

Picker Experience Standards provide independent recognition and demonstrate an organisation’s commitment to providing the highest quality person centred care for all, always.

Picker's Experience Standard framework

Picker’s Principles of Person Centred Care provide the framework of the Picker Experience Standards. These eight principles are the internationally recognised framework for understanding what matters most to patients, families, and staff.

They serve as a culturally adaptable outcome model used by care systems, organisations, and professionals to ensure the highest quality person centred care for all, always.

Picker Experience Maturity Standard (Certified)

How well is person centred care embedded across your organisation?

- Evaluates how person centred care is embedded within an organisation and how consistently it is reflected in practice.
- Provides an evidence-based assessment of an organisation’s level of maturity, with a clear view of strengths and a roadmap for areas for development.
- Supports improvement planning and wider strategic work.
- Three assessment levels: PEMA, PEMA360, PEMAR

Picker Person Centred Competency Standard (Certified)

What capabilities do you need to better deliver person centred care?

- Defines the workforce skills, behaviours, and capabilities needed for delivering experience-led excellence
- Ensures training, CPD, and development activities are building the right capabilities.

Picker Experience Insight Standard (Certified)

How do you measure and use experience data in your organisation?

- Looks at how an organisation collects, understands and uses people's experiences of care
- Validates the quality of your measurement and insight practices, ensuring evidence is robust, accessible, and understood.
- Provides independent assurance so colleagues can engage with insights, act confidently, and benchmark performance against the highest standards.

Pathway to the Accreditation

Picker Experience Standards provide a structured pathway from assessment to accreditation. We start by understanding your current position, work with you to address areas for improvement, then reassess your progress.

Assess where you are

We begin with an assessment of your current approach to person centred care. This can include:

Individual leader perspectives

360° feedback from colleagues

External assessment and review of lived experience, led by Picker

The assessment gives you a clear baseline, identifies gaps and highlights priorities for improvement.

Build and improve

Once you understand where there are opportunities to improve, you can work through the relevant development activities and Picker-certified modules. As improvements are put into practice and verified, you can progress through the Picker accreditation levels: Emerging, Developing, Established and Leading.

Reassess and maintain your accreditation

Your accreditation is reassessed every three years, giving you an opportunity to demonstrate progress and maintain your accreditation over time. You can also use Picker's networks, benchmarking and opportunities for shared learning to build on your work and learn from others.