Best Practices – Provider

Practice
People receiving services from this organization personally hand out paychecks to staff. The organization initiated the idea after attending a training by CQL (The Council on Quality and Leadership).

Additionally, a group home manager with this organization took the lead from one of the residents and renamed “House Rules” as “House Agreements”. When evolving from management developed house rules to “rules” developed by the residents themselves, the manager heard one resident say, “I agree” after a rule was suggested by a resident. She listened, and she agreed.

Who Benefits? All
How? Regarding the paychecks, the staff benefits from the reminder that although they are hired by the organization, they work for the people. The people receiving services benefit from the empowerment derived from the action. The organization as a whole benefits from an action that is symbolically very powerful, while not consuming any extra resources. Regarding the “House Agreements”, the resident benefited when his remark was heard and valued. All residents benefited by no longer being subjected to “rules” in their own home. They learned about compromise, consensus and self-governing. Other staff benefit from the realization that they too can seize upon opportunities to innovate and contribute