Training activity information
Details
Perform an audit, report the conclusions and make recommendations for actions
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Audit principles and methods
- Recommendations for the continuation of practice
- Standards; local and national
- Accreditation systems
- Governance and reporting procedures
- Quality assurance
- Continuous improvement
- Patient safety
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What area of practice or service will you audit? What are the aims and objectives of your audit?
- What standards or benchmarks will you use to compare against current practice?
- What data will you need to collect, and how will you collect it?
- Who is your intended audience for the audit report and recommendations?
In action
- As you conduct the audit, are you consciously following the defined methodology and ensuring data collection is accurate and consistent?
- As you analyse the findings, are you actively looking for patterns, trends, and significant deviations from expected standards?
- As you formulate recommendations, are you considering their feasibility, potential impact, and how they address the audit’s findings?
On action
- What were the findings of the audit you performed? What areas of practice were highlighted as needing improvement? What were the key conclusions you drew from the audit data?
- How well do you understand the principles and methodologies of auditing? What skills did you utilise in planning, conducting, and reporting the audit (e.g., data collection, analysis, report writing)? How effective were you at formulating clear and actionable recommendations based on the audit findings?
- How will you apply your understanding of audit processes in your future practice? How will you contribute to and engage with audit activities within your department? What further learning might you need regarding quality improvement methodologies and audit processes?
Beyond action
- Have you been involved in further audits or quality improvement projects since this DTA? How did your previous experience inform your subsequent contributions?
- How has this audit process enhanced your understanding of quality evaluation and the implementation of change in practice?
- In your future career, how will you utilise audit and other quality improvement methodologies to enhance service delivery?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 3 |
Outcome
Appraise and reflect on all elements of practice, identify areas for improvement and personal development. |
| # 11 |
Outcome
Evaluate the quality of practice and engage with quality and improvement processes. |