The importance of auditing your processes and the subsequent link to compliance should not be underestimated especially now that CQC have enforcement powers in relation to the Essential Standards of Quality & Safety.

To maximise the meeting of the essential standards, your organisation will need not only to audit current working practices on a regular basis but should also look at the bigger picture and establish:

  • External factors that influence the efficiency of the service
  • Changes in the sector / best practice attitudes that will influence future working methods
  • How to generate effective strategic improvement plans where deficits are identified

At GINARE CONSULTING we believe in the concept of helping organisations to help themselves and therefore our AUDIT OF SERVICE takes a slightly different approach to others in that we:

  • Prefer to undertake audits with a nominated representative of your organisation present and use the opportunity to double up the process as a ‘training session’ for effective auditing in the future
  • Supply your organisation with the audit tools used, so that in future any in house audits undertaken have a structured format and can be compared LIKE FOR LIKE too the previous audit
  • Provide not only a comprehensive feedback report in respect of the audit findings but a full table of recommendations and helpful advice and guidance for improvement planning

Of course some would argue that internal auditing is ineffective because it is difficult to assess the performance of one’s own business.

However we do not agree and indeed ‘self audit’ is crucial part of the new review process and organisations must be supported to better assess their own custom and practice. Such self audit also doesn’t mean that external audits need to cease but they can be less frequent and will maximise the chances of organisations retaining a higher standard of Quality and Safety between consultant visits.

And of course, for services to self audit will in the long term offer greater value for money