Effective SOPs

WHAT MAKES A GOOD SOP?

Participationwhen writing

Including allthe steps

Clarity

Use of images

Usable format

CAN YOU MAKE THEM VISUAL?

... or do you use a

description of a process

only...

WHERE CAN THEY BE USED?

1 2 3 4 5

“Where does your process need instructions?”

ARE YOUR SOPs EASY TO UNDERSTAND?

“What jargon are you using?”

“Are you using ‘plain English’?”

“Can a ten year old follow the instructions?” *

* for more information please visit:http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/adult_literacy/illiterate_adults_in_england

“Do you understand what you have written?”

Images / photos / diagrams / screenshots

COMMON PROBLEMS

“So, why are there so many

problems with creating,

maintaining and usingSOPS?”

ISSUE: NOT KEPT UP TO DATE

ISSUE: NOT VISIBLE

“Are they easy to find?”

ISSUE: NOT LINKED TO TRAINING

“Do new starters make their own notes,

by looking over the shoulder of someone else, who might not know the process?”

ISSUE: NOT THE BEST METHOD

“Was a single best method agreed

before the SOP was written?”

HOW DO WE MAKE THEM EFFECTIVE?

CREATE SOP MAPS

“Create simple graphical representations”

Step 1SOP 124

Step 2SOP 129

Step 3SOP 105

Step 4SOP 115

LINK TO SKILLS MATRIX

“For each skill, reference the corresponding SOP”

LINK TO TIME TABLES

“If you have documented routines, reference the SOPs”

...for more ideas and downloadable

templates

Available from:iTunes

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