The audiology service have been an UKAS accredited (to the IQIPS standard) routine and complex provider since February 2014.
Accreditation is the formal recognition that an organisation is competent to perform specific processes, activities, or tasks (which are detailed in a scope of accreditation) in a reliable credible and accurate manner.
The process of accreditation involves a web base assessment of all aspects of the services governance, practice and developments, each year. Every two years the service is evaluated in the form of a site visit by the UKAS team, usually two assessors, an assessment manager and a lay person. The audiology team had their last site visit in January 2018. Below are some of the highlights from the report:
- Evidence of highly effective system to facilitate continuous professional development activities was seen.
- The service continues to implement many innovative approaches to increasing access to Hearing Assessment and Rehabilitation. Dementia outreach clinics have been developed following communication with the dementia alliance and dementia friendly Crawley
- During the assessment, it was clear that the service lead invested in maintaining high standards of clinical service provision. There was evidence of excellent communication throughout the audiology team
The most recent assessment surveillance was completed in November 2020. First Community audiology services are the only provider locally, currently, who hold accreditation for routine and complex care, across all aspects of the service.
The latest assessment took place in December 2021 and a further assessment is due in November 2022.
The below link provides full details of the schedule of accreditation:
https://www.ukas.com/wp-content/uploads/schedule_uploads/00009/7993IQIPS-1.pdf
