Training activity information
Details
Plan and perform an audit of a departmental policy or process, 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
- Role of quality management systems in Clinical Engineering services
- Quality management and service standards relating to Clinical Engineering
- Organisational audit policies
- Role of audit, measurement and external accreditation
- Use of quality management systems for regulatory purposes
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 is the purpose of auditing a policy or process?
- What are the key steps involved in planning and performing an audit?
- How do you identify areas for improvement and formulate effective recommendations?
- What do you hope to learn about audit processes and their role in quality improvement?
- What insights do you expect to gain about the specific departmental policy or process you will be auditing?
- What existing knowledge do you have about quality management or the relevant policies and processes?
- How will you familiarise yourself with the policy or process you will be auditing?
- What audit methodologies might be appropriate?
- How will you plan the scope and focus of your audit?
- What data or information will you need to collect?
- How will you analyse your findings and develop recommendations?
- What potential challenges might you face during the audit process, and how will you prepare for them?
- How do you feel about conducting an audit?
In action
- During the audit, what aspects of the policy or process are you focusing on and why?
- As you gather evidence, are you noticing any deviations from the policy or process? How are you documenting these?
- If you identify areas for improvement, what initial recommendations are forming in your mind? What is your rationale for these?
On action
- Summarise the policy or process you audited, the audit methodology, and your key findings and recommendations.
- What did you learn about planning and performing audits?
- Did you improve your understanding of quality management systems?
- How did you approach making recommendations?
- Were there any unexpected findings or challenges during the audit?
- What did you learn from these?
- How did your audit plan or approach evolve as you conducted the audit (reflection-in-action)?
- How does this experience relate to the evaluation of quality management systems?
- What aspects of audit planning and execution do you need to develop further?
- How will you apply this learning to future audits?
- What are your next steps in understanding quality management and audit processes?
- What resources (e.g., audit protocols, quality standards) would be beneficial?
Beyond action
- Have you been involved in other audit processes or policy reviews since this DTA?
- How has your understanding of audit methodologies and the role of auditing in quality improvement evolved?
- Have you compared the recommendations you made in this audit with the outcomes of other audits you have encountered?
- How has this experience influenced your approach to understanding and adhering to departmental policies and processes?
- Have you applied the skills of planning, data collection, analysis, and recommendation development in other areas of your work?
- Has your appreciation for the importance of quality management systems and continuous improvement in healthcare changed?
- What skills related to audit and quality improvement (e.g., systematic thinking, attention to detail, communication of findings) did you develop that will be valuable in future roles involving governance or service improvement?
- How has this experience shaped your understanding of organisational policy and the mechanisms for ensuring compliance and effectiveness?
- What actions will you take to further develop your skills in audit and quality management, perhaps by undertaking further training or participating in more complex audits?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 2 |
Outcome
Apply and adapt communication skills to effectively provide and gather information to and from stakeholders. |
| # 7 |
Outcome
Evaluate the role and benefits of quality management systems, applying the relevant standards to practice. |