A person-centred observational tool: devising the Workplace Culture Critical Analysis Tool

The Workplace Cultural Critical Assessment Tool (WCCAT) is a participant observational tool developed a decade ago to capture evidence about workplace culture that can then be used to support practice development initiatives. The WCCAT has been applied extensively across the world in a range of healthcare settings. Since its inception, practice development has progressed and it is now explicitly linked to advancing person-centred cultures. With this in mind, it seemed timely to revise the WCCAT to reflect the progress made within practice development, and strategically link the tool to person-centred practice and achieving person-centred outcomes. This revision (WCCAT®) has been undertaken by members of the International Community of Practice (the authors of this article), whose focus is person-centred practice research. This article outlines the process undertaken for the revision and for the alignment of the revised tool with the Person-centred Practice Framework. Guidance is provided on when, why and how to use the tool to capture participant observational data that highlights evidence of person-centred practice. Detailed information and cues to support the observer in collecting and analysing data are provided, along with suggestions for facilitating feedback of data and subsequent action planning to support changes in practice. The benefits and limitations of using the WCCAT® are outlined.