Benefits of the Family Advocate
Many parents / guardians
have experienced frustrations when central office agents dispatch direct
care staff to their home with seemingly no regard for the consumer or
family's interests. Do these scenarios sound familiar to you?
1)
The agency has found an employee who is a great match for your dependant
loved one. Training has been completed and everything is great. Next
week the agency pulls the staff person out of your house and schedules him/her
to work for another consumer. You request for that individual to come
back but are told that that is not possible.
2)
You have a staff person who has come to care for your loved one who is not
working out for whatever reason. You ask the agency to replace the
individual with someone else. You are told that there are no other
employees who can come to provide the contracted services.
3)
The agency is supposed to provide training for new employees but you
end up doing the bulk of the training. There is a high rate of employee
turnover. You have no control over the rate of turnover and spend many
hours training their staff who end up working for someone other than
your loved one.
4)
Your favorite employee is
leaving to take a job at the local fast food restaurant because even
though he/she enjoys the work providing care for your loved one, the
wages are not enough to allow him/her to continue to work.
The Family Advocate is the person legally responsible
for the individual receiving services through Forte
Residential, Inc., the parent or legal guardian of the
consumer.
The dictionary defines Forte as “something at which a
person excels”. The definition can also connote “a
strong musical passage”. Think of Forte as a saxophone
in the hands of a master musician. The Family Advocate
plays and the instrument resonates. The breath, finger
action, and inspiration behind the music come from the
Family Advocate. Our services are the product of your
skills as a “musician” and our ability to be the quality
well tuned instrument you expect. We are an extension of
your preferences, a service agency. The music is the
consumer’s life and positive influence in the world.
No-one is in a better position to assure that quality
services are rendered than the “parental figure”
embodied in the Family Advocate.
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The Family Advocate initiates… |
Forte Residential, Inc. responds… |
|
Finding Direct Care Staff:
The FA identifies people they want to work
with their dependant loved one and directs them
to Forte who then … |
Implements the hiring process, hires and
trains qualified individuals. Forte continues to
monitor compliance issues, and provide
administrative oversight. |
|
Goal, Activity and Risk Plan development:
The FA expresses their desires and
relevant information along with other interested
parties to Forte who then … |
Develops goals, risk plans and relevant
forms pertaining to tracking progress and
training of staff. Forms are then delivered to
the consumer’s home for use. |
|
Scheduling:
The FA identifies the dates and times they
want staff to work with their dependant loved
ones and provides the request to Forte who then
… |
Reviews the requested hours in
relationship with the approved budget, provides
feedback and a list of eligible employees from
the list developed previously. |
|
Monitoring services:
The FA monitors and directs the staff as
needed during service delivery. If a need for
discipline ever arises, the FA contacts Forte
who then … |
Initiates the disciplinary action based on
the input of the FA. Independent investigation
and on-going assessment of compliance to state
standards and company policies is included in
Forte’s role. |
|
Identifying Substitute Caregivers:
In the event a Direct Care Staff does not
show up for a scheduled shift or requests a
schedule change in advance, the FA selects from
the list of certified staff to schedule a
replacement. If no replacement is available from
that list, care by family or informal staff
(non-Medicaid services) are used. |
Forte provides a list of eligible
employees previously identified, trained, and
current on certifications who are eligible to
work in the home of the consumer. |
|
Direct Care Staff Feedback:
The FA is strongly encouraged to provide
periodic status reports about the staff’s
interaction with and care of the consumer to
Forte who then … |
Provides formal written reviews based on
internal records and files along with input from
the Family Advocate. |
If you are a highly
motivated and/or extremely frustrated individual who would like more
control over your own care or that of your dependant loved one, contact
us for more information. We will be happy to discuss your situation with
you privately or with your case manager to consider if Forte
Residential, Inc. and the Family Advocate concept is appropriate and the
best option for you.
Isn't it great to know
you have a choice?
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