I have been pondering this question for a while. It has a genuine purpose, done well it tells managers about the quality of practice in the system and if thresholds around risk feel right or not. Done poorly, it tells us nothing and, at its worst, fools us into thinking practice is better than it is.
What audit doesn't particularly do well though, is improve the quality of practice. I tend to find that workers see it as something that is done to them, leaves them a list of corrective actions and tends to say, "you aren't doing well enough".
Don't get me wrong, sometimes there is a need to audit to understand the state of practice or themes and elements, but let's be clear, that is what it is doing and nothing more.
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