JAN'S GROUP HOME SUPPORT

There is a balance between having an organized group home and a home that is uncomfortable because residents can’t relax in because they are nervous about messing something up.

First remember that a group home is a HOME first and a place of business second.

To help group home residents know where things go after use your can provide the following:

• Photographs and/or lists of what goes in a cabinet (use the inside of the cabinet door), inside containers, on laundry room shelves, cleaning closets, shelves, etc. If the picture or list can be posted discreetly do so. If not have a book that the group home resident can refer to.

• Have the residents have their own personal care basket with a handle or bag to keep their things in. This is important for sanitary reasons and for financial reasons.

• Have the group home support staff model appropriate organization.

• Organize the group home residents rooms and closets.

• Create routines of getting activity supplies, games, clothes, etc that include keeping things organized. The repetition will help group home residents develop organization skills so they will not need constant prompting.

• Get rid of clutter. Things that aren’t used or their are duplicates of can be given to other group homes that may need the item. It is easier to stay organized if their isn’t a lot of unused stuff to constantly put away.

• Have a shelf or closet for paperwork to be secured and organized. Paperwork will be more likely accurately filled out if organized and easy to find. Use notebooks to organize paperwork so that it is all together for the group home staff to fill out.

Once a group home is organized, if everyone spends a few minutes a shift to keep it organized, there will be less times searching for things and cleaning up messes. Organized group homes allow for more time to spend with the residents.

Behavior data sheets are used to track information about group home residents. Data sheets are an essential component of behavior health treatment plans. All group home support staff should make filling out the data sheets accurately a priority.

The reasons this is important:

• Used to develop behavior treatment plans
• Provide history and information regarding behaviors
• Required for monitoring residents who are receiving certain medications
• Evaluates effectiveness of plan
• Effects group home residents quality of life
• Track progress or lack of progress

Group home support staff should check for the following when filling out behavior health data sheets:

• Name is printed with initials for reference
• Data is on correct day
• Numbers are easy to read (close “0″’s so they doesn’t look like a 6 or 8 and close “9″’s so they don’t look like a 4)
• All spaces are filled in
• Initials are in appropriate spaces
• Notes are written regarding behaviors as needed
• Totals are correct

With accurate information on behavior health data sheets, the group home residents can get behavior treatment plans that will effectively help them to reach their goals.

Staff should be trained properly on what should and should not go into communication logs. Staff is often required to show they have been reading the communication logs. It is done by initialing the entry, or with computers, clicking on “read”.  After months and years of reading similar and often repetitive enteries, it is easy for group home support staff to not even “see” what they just read. Often staff will glance and either initial the page or click “read” on internet communication logs (like Therap) right before they leave their shift.

Proper communication log entries are important for the following reasons:

• It is a legal document
• Medication errors can be avoided with proper communication of changes
• Behaviors reduced if next shift is aware of any issues resident had during previous shifts
• Increased adherence to work schedule changes
• Decrease in missed appointments
• Promptness  in following changes

Ways to verify staff is really reading communication logs:

• Give a prize/be entered in a drawing when they answer questions regarding com log entries correctly
• Question individually on com log entries regularly
• Follow up that instructions/tasks were followed promptly

Try the following suggestions to keep group home communication log entries interesting and encourage reading of communication log entries at group homes:

• Include company updates and activities
• 1-3 times per week include short reviews from training classes, policy and procedures, and provider manuals
• Acknowledge the good works of staff

Sometimes no matter what you do, staff will not read communication log entries or enter information. Let staff know ahead of time when you expect the problem to be corrected (give a specific date) and follow through. If the problem is not corrected you may need to follow up with a verbal warning or write up so that the group home support staff employed in your group home will know you are serious.

« Previous entries