OARTY Membership Standards

In 2014, OARTY introduced membership standards based on internationally recognized accreditation standards.  These standards serve as a best practice, and members are encouraged to utilize these standards in their own agencies.  

Membership Standards

1.   Operations
Member agencies are encouraged to have a process in place to review these documents, policies and plans at a minimum of every three years.

1. Cultural competency plan
2. Ethical code of conduct and a written procedure to deal with allegations of violations of ethical codes
3. Strategic plan 
4. A policy on records and record keeping, along with written procedures on records
5. Risk Management Plan
6. Policies and procedures that promote the safety of persons served and of personnel
7. Documentation of training in health and safety for all staff both at the time of hire and annually thereafter
8. A policy and written procedures related to the verification of personnel background and credentials
9. Technology and system plan
10. Accessibility plan
11. Description of performance measurement and management system
12. Annual review or audit by an independent, authorized accountant 
13. Performance analysis
14. Performance improvement action plan
     

2. Persons Served
Member agencies are encouraged to have a process in place to review these policies at a minimum of every two years.

1. Policies on the rights of persons served
2. Policy(ies) and written procedure by which persons served may make a formal complaint
3. Policy that specifies time frames for entries to the records of the person served
4. Policies regarding information to be transmitted to other individuals or agencies (may include but is not limited to PIC data)
5. Documented plan for persons served engagement, including how persons served can inform policies and procedures
    

3. Program
Member agencies are encouraged to have a process in place to review these policies and procedures at a minimum of every three years.

1. Policy that identifies whether medications are used in the program and the process for persons served to obtain medications needed to promote recovery and/or desired treatment/service outcomes
2. Documented ongoing training and education regarding medications for persons served and personnel 
3. Policy that identifies how the organization will respond to aggressive or assaultive behaviours and whether and under what circumstance seclusion and restraints will be used.  
4. Documented initial and ongoing competency-based training for all direct service or front-line personnel employed by the organization 
5. Documented initial and ongoing competency-based training for personnel involved in the direct administration of seclusion or restraint 
    

 4. Specialized or Treatment Foster Care, Foster Family and Kinship Care

1. Documentation of training provided to foster and kinship families (including a home study process for each foster home) 
2. For specialized or treatment foster care - Documentation of provider training, including the type, length and date of training 
3. Plan to regularly monitor each foster home placement
    

 5. Group Home Care

1. Policies and procedures relating to quarterly reviews (at a minimum) of each child’s/youth’s plans of services, goals and progress
    

6. Medically Complex

1. Primary assessment for each child/youth served that includes identification of presenting health risks, health goals, and expected health benefits