Conversation starter tool: Running a basic Social Audit

Social Audit is an opportunity to test whether an agency’s work matches its claims.Just like a financial audit, where a financial auditor will come in and test whether what the organisation says about its finances is true or not, a social auditor looks to see if an organisation’s practice matches its claims in relation to values and outcomes for the people it serves.

The Social Audit tool developed by JFA Purple Orange is based on the Model of Citizenhood Support, including key themes called the Four Capitals.

Below are 12 questions based on the above model, and can be a useful starting point for an organisation to do a self-initiated social audit.

In considering each of the questions, the organisation will need to look for evidence in what is written down, in what stakeholders say, and in behaviours can be observed in service delivery.

Note that organisations tend to be much kinder on themselves compared to an external audit.Try to resist this, and instead be as honest as possible about the evidence you encounter.After all, you are not looking for a pat on the back, you are looking for opportunities to deepen the impact you can have in the lives of the people you serve.

If you wish to use these questions to run an audit at your agency, contact JFA Purple Orange first to get permission, and to check currency of the material etc.

You are not permitted to use this material to run a Social Audit at someone’ else’s agency, because this material belongs to JFA Purple Orange and requires additional content, training and accreditation.