Building a Simple Internal Audit Schedule

Most quality assurance problems aren’t caused by not knowing what needs checking – they’re caused by everything being checked in a rush right before an inspection, instead of on a steady rhythm through the year.

A simple starting schedule splits checks by how often they realistically need doing: medication and care plan spot-checks monthly, a fuller care records review quarterly, and policy/training-record reviews twice a year. Staff supervision and appraisal cycles should sit on their own separate schedule, since they typically run on a different rhythm again.

The schedule only works if someone owns it and it’s genuinely followed – a spreadsheet nobody looks at is no better than no schedule at all.

Last updated: 19 August 2026