Creative Ways to Utilize All Staff to Prepare for Accreditation

Valerie J Brownlow and Dawn Rea ScherTechnical Assistance Provided by Grace Brosch

Credentialing Aerobics!!

CREDENTIALING 101

TIP #1

• KICK OFF MEETING– Staff– Advisory Council– Food if you can– FUN! – Timeline– Reassurance– Blurbs about each section

Tip #2

• CHOICE– Give staff choices– Blurb about each section – Let staff and advisory council rate their top 3

interests – People will be more engaged in something they

are already interested in– Give them control whenever you can

Credentialing 201

• Staff differences between those who had helped and others

• Repeated Kick Off Meeting and Choice Tips

Tip #3

• DRAFT– Have staff draft 1-2 sections they pick– Initial document from the first accreditation – Believe in them – May need support to believe they can analyze,

write, revise, etc.

Tip #4

• TEAMS OF TWO– Based on their INTERESTS not friends– Use the choices & give everyone 1st choice– Give them support to work together– Build internal relationships– Some staff may have independent sections

Tip #6

• SKILL BUILDING AND FUN!

Skill Building & Fun

• Creativity• Let them loose• Educate Each Other – Best way to Learn• See the value• See the flexibility – how it CAN be done

Skill building & Fun: Examples

• Retreat– Training – Strong Content gives value to all– Teambuilding– Relaxation to Recharge– Work & Fun– Even one day– Nurture them with food

Retreat

Training

Strong Content

Overworked?

Fun

Skill Building & Fun: Examples

• Section 4: Offer services intensely with intensity.– Speed word search with prizes– Stations to explore areas (dyads w/timer)• Policy• Forms• How well we already do• How to improve

Skill Building & Fun: Examples

• Section 8: Limited Caseloads…– Briefly reviewed the standard (flipchart)– Fill in the Blank Game (3 minutes)– File Activity to demonstrate paperwork caseload• Non-speaking with numbers on backs and have to end

up with the appropriate number of files

– Family Activity to demonstrate the balancing act• 3 home visitors and 1 supervisor – dolls with summary

pinned on. Supervisor has to quickly assign.

Teach Each Other

Make It Fun!

Tip #7

• SUPPORT– Computers– Long Prep Time – Time to meet in teams – Answer questions in meeting time– Solicit questions/check in during supervision – Offer opportunity to meet with Program Manager – Firm deadlines

Tip #8

• RECOGNITION– Send update emails – Use a chart in team to track– Lots of thanks– Token gift when they finish their first section

(rewarding the process, not the outcome)

Why Bother?

• Staff understood the “why” better• Knew the forms because they had worked to

create them• Understood policy changes • More accurate documentation

Why Bother

• Flexibility – see how we can adjust• Staff become invested – more than employees• Supervision (time frame, reflection, parallel

process)• Tools more current (ASQ – delays/referrals,

FSP, immunizations)

Credentialing 301

• Advanced• Lots of Senior Staff• Repeated much of what we had before, but

needed less support

Tip #9

• TECHNOLOGY– Shared Documents worked for some– Others found it too intimidating– Let them pick for their level of comfort– Match the savvy with the novice– Make YOUR OWN back up of any major draft

ADVISORY COUNCIL TIPS

• Choice• They don’t have to be experts in HF• Clear to them then it should be clear to

reviewers • Good week for review of final draft with data• Happily accept all feedback • THANKS • Token gift

SUMMARY

• Kick Off Meeting• Choice• Draft• Teams• Skill building & Fun• Support• Recognition• Technology

Questions

CONTACT US

• Dawn Scher dawn@hfls.us

• Valerie Brownlow valerie@hfls.us

410-621-088911120 Somerset Avenue

Princess Anne, MD 21853