A guide for mental health clinicians to develop and undertake benchmarking activities.

There is a growing expectation for staff to participate in benchmarking activities. If benchmarking projects are to be successful, managers and clinicians need to be aware of the steps involved. In this article, we identify key aspects of benchmarking and consider how clinicians and managers can respond to and meet contemporary requirements for the development of sound benchmarking relationships. Practicalities and issues that must be considered by benchmarking teams are also outlined. Before commencing a benchmarking project, ground rules and benchmarking agreements must be developed and ratified. An understandable benchmarking framework is required: one that is sufficiently robust for clinicians to engage in benchmarking activities and convince others that benchmarking has taken place. There is a need to build the capacity of clinicians in relation to benchmarking.