SERVICE

One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.		  
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  COMMUNITY

A specific group of people living in the same locality and who may share a common culture, values, and norms. Communities can also be defined by race, religion, ethnicity, age, occupation, political status, tribal affiliation, interest in particular problems or outcomes, or other common bonds. The term "community" encompasses worksites, schools, tribes, residential neighborhoods, business districts, recreational areas, and health and human service sites.		  
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  CLINICAL

The study, assessment, and diagnosis of the client situation followed by direct treatment to help the client achieve prescribed goals.		  
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  EMPLOYEE

Paid member of an organization. Foster parents are not considered employees and are specifically referenced in relevant standards. 		 
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  PROCEDURES

Written instructions that outline the steps for performing a task(s) or operationalizing an administrative or service delivery process. A procedure can be written as a step-by-step set of instructions or as a narrative description of a process. A procedure tells someone how to do something not just what to do.

Unlike policies, procedures do not need to be approved or reviewed by the governing body, and need not be associated with a specific policy. For example, whereas a broad anti-discrimination policy requires grievance or other procedures in order to be operationalized within an organization, assessment procedures do not require a governing body approved assessment policy.

Note: Procedures are sometimes referred to as administrative policies.

  
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  CONTRACT

A formal written agreement between two or more parties that specifies the services, space, or products to be provided in exchange for some form of compensation. Also known as "purchase of service arrangement."		  
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  CASE

A general term used to designate clients (including individuals, families, and groups) served by an organization for purposes of monitoring the provision of services. A foster care case is generally based on the placement of an individual child, although casework for the child may include services to the child's family. A child protective services case is based on an entire family household if a family assessment model is used; otherwise a case is defined as a child.		  
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  PERSONNEL

The body of employees and/or volunteers that carries out the organization's tasks under the organization's administration and/or supervision. This definition does not include foster parents who are specifically referenced in relevant standards		  
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  PROGRAM

A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.		  
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  CASE RECORD

A written compilation that describes the client and the services delivered. Records can be in hard copy and/or electronic format. The case record can be used as a source of information for quality improvement or other evaluation activities, for research purposes, or to demonstrate accountability to funding bodies. 		 
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Group Living Services
  
Private Org Public Agency  

GLS 11: Privacy Provisions

 
The organization provides for resident comfort, dignity, and privacy.

GLS 11.01

 

The organization:

  1. maintains doors on sleeping areas and bathroom enclosures unless there is clear, clinical, written justification for their removal;
  2. provides one- or two-person rooms to residents who need extra sleep, protection from sleep disturbance, or extra privacy for clinical reasons; and
  3. requires employees to knock before entering a resident’s room.
Update: Revised Interpretation - 09/01/10

GLS 11.01 Original Interpretation:

The organization should provide single rooms for developmentally disabled adults.

Interpretation: The organization should ideally provide single rooms for developmentally disabled adults. However, COA recognizes that this can be difficult for organizations to achieve. Factors to be considered when assigning a rating for this standard include: what portion of developmentally disabled adults have private rooms, whether shared rooms are a temporary placement, whether a shared room is the preference of the resident, and whether the group living facility is the resident’s permanent home.

GLS 11.02

 

The organization:

  1. follows procedures for legal searches of residents or their property consistent with applicable state and federal law; and
  2. prohibits the use of surveillance cameras or listening devices for routine observation of residents in their rooms, unless required by judicial order, law, or contract.

GLS 11.03

 

Searches of participants or their property are conducted in a manner that respects client rights, dignity, and self-determination and include, as appropriate to the frequency and invasiveness of searches:

  1. timely notification of a parent or guardian;
  2. definition and documentation of reasonable cause and assessed risk of harm to self or others;
  3. trained, qualified staff; and
  4. an administrative review process including documentation, notification, and the timetable for review.
Interpretation: The invasiveness of the search to be conducted has a direct impact on all aspects of search procedures. Organizations must demonstrate that more invasive searches are associated with an increased level of risk, reasonable cause, staff competence, and level of administrative review.

GLS 11.04

 

The organization does not open mail received by a resident, unless a previous incident involving the resident indicates that:

  1. the mail is suspected of containing unauthorized, dangerous, or illegal material or substances, in which case it may be opened by the resident in the presence of designated personnel; or
  2. receiving or sending unopened mail is contraindicated.

GLS 11.05

 

All residents can have private telephone conversations, and any restriction is:

  1. based on contraindications or a court order;
  2. approved in advance by the program director or an appropriate designee;
  3. documented in the case record; and
  4. reauthorized weekly by the immediate supervisor of the direct service provider.
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PURPOSE: Individuals who receive Group Living Services regain, maintain, and improve life skills and functioning in a safe, stable, community-based living arrangement.
 
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