Policies are what you say; procedures are how you say it. As was discussed last week, a policy’s purpose is to tell everyone what you want to do. And now, the procedure tells how you’re going to do it.
Procedures are about the process. The steps your organization takes to follow a guideline. Comply. Teach new employees what to do. Explain to regulatory agencies how you plan on executing your policy.
So how do you accurately reflect what you’re going to do? The best way is to start with an outline. Figure out the steps which an employee, the organization takes to carry out the plan. For some writers, they have it in their heads. Steps A, B, C, etc. For others, it’s more difficult. And you can start at the end and work your way backward. What is your result and how do you get there?
Suppose your organization needs a process to detect high-risk children. The result is that you want them to have safety and/or crisis plans. This way, staff can assure the child and their family that, if they are possibly thinking of harming themselves or others or running away, there is a plan in place.
Here’s an example of doing this backward.
This may not cover everything. But it shows how the manager or the person making the procedure got to the beginning. By starting at the end. It may be easier to go the other way, but it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that the procedure should be as self-explanatory as possible. So that if it’s picked up at any time by a staff member, a regulatory agency, an accreditation organization, they can understand it in plain English. Once all the pieces are in place, they can then be written in outline form or the narrative. There is no right or wrong way. Just so it’s understood.
Providing clear procedures helps staff know their job and gives the agency structured protocols for their operation.
Praxes provides consulting services on policies and procedures. Here is a list of our services.
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PRAXES is a nationwide behavioral health software, consulting, and training company. No one in the behavioral health industry has a better reputation, and if you give us the chance, we’ll show you why! At PRAXES, our services improve the efficiency and structure of behavioral health agencies serving children and families nationwide. PRAXES brings over 45 years of administrative and clinical expertise. With more than 100 client companies nationwide, we offer the expertise to advance the quality of behavioral health services. We accomplish these goals through our new clinical decision software, our training of best practices, and helping companies meet regulatory standards. At PRAXES, we believe in being creative and fostering new ways to serve children and their families. Our vision is to empower the families our agencies serve with skills that not only improve their functioning, but help them to thrive in their everyday lives. When you give us the chance, you’ll be connected directly to our friendly staff, so you can expect immediate attention to your inquiry. So, don’t wait, call now!
Dan Thorne has unique perspectives on the field of mental health. As a clinician, he has had over 40 years of experience working with clients in the Southern California area. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine, he worked with children in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. Here he honed his earliest techniques on at-risk children. After that, he obtained his Master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton.
In the 1990’s, Dan turned his attention to the clinical and administrative side of behavioral health organizations. For three years, he was the Assistant Administrator of Starting Point, a chemical dependency facility in Costa Mesa, CA. In 2001, he took an opportunity to be the Director of Harbor View Community Services Center in Long Beach. When he arrived, the Center had only 80 clients and 13 staff. When he left, there were over 400 clients and 75 staff. Dan created several programs through their contract with the Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Child and Family Services. Under his guidance, Harbor View became one of the leading providers of children’s services in Los Angeles County.
While improving the results of the client’s parents at the Center, Dan reflected on his experiences as a parent. His children themselves had special needs such as mental and intellectual challenges, and Dan knew the toll it takes on the parent. In order to help the child, the parent has to be healthy. From this concept, he created his parenting program. After years of refining it, teaching it to his staff at the Center, and then taking the results and comments from these efforts, he became the developer of the current PRAXES program. It is a culmination of Dan’s personal trials and tribulations as a parent along with empirical results and research of over 40 parenting programs.
Our vision at PRAXES is to advance the strength of parents and caregivers of children with special needs (mental health, intellectual, or physical) through education, support, and empowerment. Thus, they can live healthy and functional lives while caring for the child.
Apogee is a clinical decision software designed to help behavioral health practitioners with their treatment and patient engagement. It provides evidence-based and research-based components. Not only do they consist of elements from such practices as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Functional Behavior Analysis, but also the Intensive Models for Parents, Youth, and Children.
PRAXES has over 30 years of accreditation experience. We know what it takes to get your organization accredited. Whether it’s Joint Commission, CARF, or COA, our team can provide an evaluation of your current status and review the standards which need improvements. We will assist you with the policies, documentation, and training required to be accredited.
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