Supervised Internship & Mentoring
A five-day supervised field placement on a real ASF accreditation survey. Candidates work as full members of the survey team under the direct mentorship of a named Senior ASF Surveyor — experiencing every phase of the accreditation cycle from opening conference to final report.
The Purpose of SRV-03
No classroom simulation fully replicates the experience of a live accreditation survey. SRV-03 is designed to close that gap. During the five-day placement, the candidate is immersed in a real survey — interacting with real clinical staff, assessing real documentation, and navigating the genuine dynamics of a healthcare facility being evaluated by an external team.
The structured mentoring process means the candidate is never left without guidance, but equally is not simply observing from the sidelines. By Day 2, interns are conducting interviews, reviewing records, and scoring standards criteria alongside experienced surveyors. By Day 4, they are expected to draft findings and contribute to team scoring sessions without prompting. This progressive autonomy is deliberate: the goal is to develop the professional independence and judgement the certification examination will assess.
Candidates who have passed the SRV-02 Classroom Training and have been assigned an internship placement by the ASF Training Coordinator. Placement confirmation is sent at least four weeks before the survey date, with the candidate’s mentor named and contact information provided. All survey sites accept intern participation as part of their accreditation agreement with ASF.
The Five-Day Survey Cycle
ASF surveys follow a structured five-phase cycle. The intern participates in all five phases, with their role evolving from supported participant to near-independent contributor across the week.
| Phase | Day(s) | Intern Activities | Mentor Role | Assessment Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Survey Preparation | Day 1 (AM) | Review facility pre-survey submission documents (self-assessment, policies, quality reports); prepare standards checklist and interview guide with mentor; participate in team briefing | Reviews intern’s preparation work; corrects any standards misinterpretations; models survey planning approach | K1 (Standards knowledge); K3 (Survey methodology); P1 (Preparation thoroughness) |
| Opening Conference | Day 1 (PM) | Observes opening conference delivery; takes structured notes; identifies key facility-specific risks and priorities for follow-up during the survey week | Leads conference; debrief with intern afterwards on facilitation choices | K2 (Accreditation process understanding); B1 (Professionalism) |
| Survey Execution | Days 2–3 | Conducts clinical and administrative staff interviews (initially paired with mentor, then independently); reviews clinical records and policy documents; participates in facility walk; completes daily standards scoring log; attends daily team debrief meetings | Observes intern interviews and document review; provides real-time structured feedback using ASF Mentor Assessment Form; models advanced interview technique on complex cases | P2 (Interview skill); P3 (Document review); P4 (Standards scoring); B2 (Communication); B3 (Team collaboration) |
| Findings Development | Day 4 | Drafts written findings for a minimum of two assigned standards domains; participates in full team scoring and calibration session; contributes to identification of commendations and recommendations | Reviews intern’s findings draft; coaches on clarity, evidence, and proportionality; formally assesses team contribution and scoring participation | P5 (Findings writing); K4 (Scoring calibration); B4 (Independence and judgement) |
| Closing Conference & Handover | Day 5 | Participates in closing conference delivery (presents findings from one assigned domain); assists with final report structure; completes intern self-evaluation form; closing mentor meeting | Formally completes the ASF Mentor Assessment Form; submits assessment to ASF Training Coordinator; provides oral and written feedback to intern | All competency domains — cumulative assessment |
The ASF Mentor Network
ASF has a dedicated cohort of six trained Senior Surveyors serving as intern mentors. Each has undergone ASF’s mentor preparation programme, which covers adult learning principles, structured observation, and the use of the ASF Mentor Assessment Form. Mentors operate in four languages (English, French, Russian, Georgian) and are matched to interns based on:
Matching Criteria
- Language compatibility (primary working language)
- Clinical or management background (hospital, primary care, public health)
- Survey type compatibility (hospital survey, clinic survey, national health system survey)
- Geographic availability for the assigned survey
Mentor Responsibilities
- Pre-survey briefing call with intern (minimum 30 minutes)
- Daily structured observation and verbal feedback during survey
- Completion of ASF Mentor Assessment Form by Day 5
- Submission of completed form to ASF Training Coordinator within 48 hours
- Recommendation for or against SRV-03 sign-off
ASF Mentor Assessment Form
The ASF Mentor Assessment Form is the formal instrument used to evaluate intern performance during SRV-03. It covers all twelve competency domains of the ASF Surveyor Competency Framework, using a four-point rating scale (Not Yet Demonstrated / Developing / Competent / Proficient), supplemented by structured narrative commentary. The form is submitted electronically to the ASF Training Coordinator. Candidates receive a copy of their completed form with their SRV-03 outcome notification.
Completion and Progression
Successful completion of SRV-03 requires a Mentor Assessment Form outcome of Competent or above across a minimum of 10 of the 12 competency domains, with no domain rated “Not Yet Demonstrated.” Candidates who do not achieve this standard are assigned to a second internship placement (maximum one re-placement) on a subsequent ASF survey. A second failure is reviewed by the ASF Training Committee.
Upon successful SRV-03 sign-off, candidates are eligible to book the ASF Surveyor Certification Examination — Step 4 of the pathway. The Training Coordinator will provide the examination booking link and available dates within five working days of receiving the signed Mentor Assessment Form.
Arranging Your Internship Placement
Internship placements are arranged by the ASF Training Coordinator based on survey scheduling. Available placements are confirmed by cohort, following SRV-02. Contact training@france-asf.fr after receiving your SRV-02 pass notification — typical placement lead times are 6–10 weeks from the date of SRV-02 completion.