Role Description - Chair of Clinical Audit Group

Appointed by:  		Medical Director
Reports to:		Medical Director 
Key working relationships:	Clinical Audit and Effectiveness Manager
Divisional/Specialty CA Convenors
Divisional Clinical Chairs/Service Leads
Head of Quality (Patient Experience and Clinical Effectiveness)
Term of office:		 	3 years (longer by agreement) 

Introduction

The Clinical Audit Group is the Trust’s lead Group for matters relating to the practice of clinical audit, supporting both the ‘Clinical Effectiveness’ and ‘Patient Safety’ dimensions of the NHS model of Quality

Personal Characteristics

•	The Chair of Clinical Audit Group (CAG) will be a key advocate for the practice of clinical audit, and will be an important link between Executive leadership, corporate assurance and Divisional operational implementation. 
•	The Chair of CAG will have a clinical background at consultant level (medical or nurse/AHP) or equivalent, with knowledge and experience of using clinical audit as a methodology for both improving practice and providing assurance. 
•	The Chair of CAG must be an advocate/champion of multi-professional working and comfortable working with a wide range of professionals and specialities.
•	The Chair of CAG should have an aptitude and interest in group management, leadership and facilitation skills and demonstrate highly developed interpersonal and team-working skills.

Key responsibilities 

•	To Chair meetings of the Trust’s Clinical Audit Group (currently 5 meetings per year)
•	To help ensure that the Trust has a clear strategy for Clinical Audit and that any objectives outlined within this Strategy are met. 
•	To meet regularly with the Clinical Audit & Effectiveness Manager to agree agendas, agree minutes, review actions, etc. 
•	To work closely with the Clinical Audit & Effectiveness Manager in providing regular reports (currently on a quarterly basis) to the Trust Audit Committee and the Clinical Quality Group (CQG), highlighting any assurance issues on behalf of the Group.  The Chair will attend meetings to present these reports.
•	To fulfil the role of Clinical Audit Convenor for Trust-wide projects
•	To identify Clinical Audit Convenors who will lead on specific issues on behalf of the CAG (as necessary)
•	To work collaboratively with the Chair of the Clinical Effectiveness Group, particular in respect of the audit of NICE guidance, and the development of systems for clinical outcomes monitoring.