Thank you to all the auditors for your hard work and patience as we wrap up the Audit QA reviews for 2018. As one of the Certifying Partners, we appreciate all the work auditors have put in, especially providing audit revisions to the CCSA. 2018 was a year of transition from the new OHS Legislation to the updated audit tool. As mentioned at the auditor refresher, CCSA Quality Assurance process has been improved to ensure we are meeting Partnership standards. To clarify, Partnerships Standards are not new, CCSA is now ensuring the standards are being applied in the appropriate way for example: deducting points for errors. Below you will find the Partnership Standards that Audit notes must adhere to:
1.15 Auditor Notes
PROGRAM POLICY
Auditors must provide adequate notes to clearly justify the scoring for all audit questions.
BACKGROUND
The Partnerships Standard requires auditors to provide a note to justify the score assigned for each audit question. This allows the auditor to explain their rationale for the scores assigned, and verifies whether or not the auditor followed audit guidelines in completing the audit process.
PARTNERSHIPS STANDARDS
1.15.1 Auditors must write a note to justify the scoring of every audit question.
1.15.1.1 Auditor notes must reflect that the question guidelines have been followed.
1.15.1.2 Auditor notes must be consistent with the notes and score awarded for other related questions.
1.15.1.3 Auditors must indicate the validation method(s) used to score the question.
1.15.1.4 If more than one validation technique is required to score a question, the notes must indicate the results for each technique.
1.15.1.5 Auditor notes should indicate (where required by the CP) what documentation was reviewed and what observations were completed, and include reference to the specifics of what was found.
1.15.1.6 The percentage of positive indicators must be specified where required by the CP.
1.15.2 Auditor notes must be original and specific to the audited employer’s health and safety systems during the period of the current audit.
1.15.3 Auditor notes to be included inside the final audit report submitted to the employer must not include:
- direct reference to a specific employee
- statements of auditor personal opinion
- restatement of the audit question as the only justification for the score awarded
- contradictory information
- boilerplated or templated notes
Quality Assurance Processes/Procedures requirements
Certifying Partners must:
1.15 A Implement a process for ensuring the auditor notes requirements are met.
Please note that if you did not attend the Auditor Refresher sessions held in November and December 2018; then your auditor status has lapsed, and you cannot perform audits. This reflects BOTH internal and external auditors. Please contact CCSA immediately should you wish to reinstate your certification. Additionally, all auditors must be certified with the CCSA to be eligible to perform audits on any Continuing Care site.
Auditor Updates: The CCSA will provide update information through Auditor Updates to ensure all Auditors are using the most current audit instrument and following appropriate procedures. Auditor Updates occur yearly and run for at least 2.5 hours to comply with Partnership’s standards. Stay tuned for details on 2019 Auditor Updates.