Data & security
Audit trail
Also known as: audit log, audit history
A chronological, tamper-evident record of who did what and when within a system, used to demonstrate accountability and reconstruct events.
An audit trail is a chronological record of actions in a system: who accessed or changed a record, what changed, and when. In a well-designed system the trail is immutable, meaning entries cannot be quietly altered or deleted after the fact.
For care records, an audit trail lets a manager reconstruct exactly what happened around an incident and show that records were not changed retrospectively.
Why it matters for care homes
A reliable audit trail supports the Well-led key question, protects staff and residents if events are questioned, and is a core expectation of good data governance under the DSPT and UK GDPR.
Related guides
See how Revitaco supports Audit trail
Care home management software designed to help you evidence CQC compliance, manage medicines, and keep person-centred records.