ORG15 Building an Evidence Trail
Strong sensory evidence shows a connected story: what the need was, why a decision was made, what happened and whether it helped.
Five things to consider
Identify the need
Show the functional sensory barrier clearly.
Record the decision and reasoning
Explain what was chosen and why.
Show implementation
Evidence that the agreed action actually happened in practice.
Include the person’s experience
Capture relevant feedback, preference and outcome.
Review and learn
Show whether support worked and what changed next.
Turning this into practical action
✓ Choose one sensory need and trace it from identification to review.
✓ Check that records agree with what staff actually do.
✓ Use observations, feedback and outcomes as evidence where relevant.
✓ Avoid creating paperwork solely for inspection; evidence should reflect real practice.
What this can look like in practice
A record identifies difficulty reading medication information, documents the agreed accessible approach, shows staff using it, records the person’s feedback and later reviews whether the approach remains effective.
Question for your organisation
Could you trace one sensory need from identification all the way through to outcome and review?
Important boundary
CQC evidence expectations vary by service type and quality statement. This resource illustrates a practical evidence trail; it is not a CQC checklist or guarantee of a particular rating.
Want to take this further?
Connected evidence helps an organisation demonstrate how sensory information becomes real support. If this resource has highlighted gaps in your organisation’s sensory practice, Sensory Visionaries can help, from reviewing what you currently have in place to providing a structured approach through the Sensory Compliance System.