People Helping People of North Carolina, LLC

Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities

CARF-accredited service providers enjoy recognition among an international community of persons served, peer facilities, and programs for superior standards of care and excellence in outcomes.

A Foundation for Quality

Purchasers and providers of behavioral health care choose CARF accreditation as a blueprint for quality services and to demonstrate that their organizations' programs meet internationally recognized standards.
Although CARF's standards are responsive to the unique needs of specialized programs in behavioral health, certain fundamental principles apply to all programs. These principles serve as the foundation for all CARF standards. An organization seeking accreditation for a behavioral health program must demonstrate the following through policy and practice:

• Partnership with the persons served in the development of treatment services and individualized program goals.
• Service design and delivery that focus on the needs of the persons served.
• A service delivery process that uses a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Program accessibility and assignment of qualified staff members to provide behavioral health services.
• A system of accountability that evaluates the outcomes achieved by the persons served as a measure of the success of the behavioral health programs.

Conformance to Standards

In all core programs in which accreditation is sought, the organization is asked to demonstrate to a survey team conformance to standards highlighting the organization's values and approaches in these areas:

• Organizational leadership
• Corporate compliance (U.S. only)
• Information management and performance management
• Fiscal management (including risk management)
• Human resources
• Communication
• Accessibility
• Health, safety, and transportation
• Information analysis
• Outcomes management
• Rights of the persons served
• Program structure and staffing
• Screening and access to services
• Individual planning
• Transition/recovery support services
• Pharmacotherapy (if applicable)
• Seclusion and restraint (if applicable)
• Records of the persons served
• Quality records review

As a first step, the organization seeking accreditation commits to enhancing the lives of the persons served. Organizational values are developed or revised to reflect this commitment. In addition, involvement of consumers is evident in all aspects of the organization's operations.
Next, the organization examines its structure and mission in light of current environmental factors. To do this, stakeholders are identified, their needs are determined and prioritized, and revisions to service delivery are implemented when appropriate.
The organization sets up an outcomes management system to assess changes in the lives of the persons served, the organization, or the community as a result of services provided.
A quality organization illustrates the following:

• Service design and delivery that is focused on the needs of the persons served and the organization's other stakeholders.
• Active involvement of the persons served as partners in the service development and individual planning process.
• An outcomes management system that is used to continuously improve the quality of individual programs and organizational structure.

Accreditation and Beyond 

The value of accreditation is much more than a certificate on the wall. An organization seeking accreditation from CARF demonstrates a clear focus on its customers, the expectations and satisfaction of the persons it serves, and the achievement of mutually established outcomes.
The accreditation process is based on the concepts of peer review, networking, and sharing ideas. CARF's hallmark is a consultative approach to surveys, not an inspective one.
The purpose of the CARF on-site survey is for a team of peers to provide an impartial, external review based on conformance to the standards. The trained CARF surveyors are matched to the organization's characteristics and program types.
Using a consultative approach, the surveyors interview consumers, families, staff members, funders, and other stakeholders; observe service practices; review appropriate documentation; answer questions about important points in the standards; and provide suggestions to further improve the organization's operations and services.
When the survey is completed, the organization receives a survey report that acknowledges and reinforces the organization and staff for their best practices. It contains suggestions for improving services, and it also contains recommendations for improvement based on conformance to the standards.
Equipped with this information, the organization prepares a quality improvement plan to address the recommendations during the tenure of the accreditation. Using its outcomes management system and the content of the survey report, the organization continues to refine and improve its services, operations, evaluations, methods, organizational structure, and policies.
The performance improvement plan is a key part of the accreditation cycle. The organization should prepare for its resurvey by keeping informed about changes in the standards, which are covered in annually updated CARF publications and at CARF seminars and conferences.
From CARF's perspective, accreditation represents a focus on quality demonstrated through a collaborative partnership with accredited organizations that extends far beyond the actual accreditation survey. Between surveys, organizations have opportunities to participate in CARF-sponsored educational events and conferences around the country and receive periodic updates about CARF through its web site and the CARF newsletter.

Ongoing Support

The CARF staff is available by telephone or e-mail to answer questions regarding the interpretation of standards and provide advice regarding "better practices" and national trends in the behavioral health field. In short, accredited organizations have the opportunity to use CARF as a collaborative partner in an ongoing effort to improve service delivery and care.
Today's dynamic "learning organization" uses the CARF accreditation process and results for its strategic planning, staff development, and marketing activities to improve the quality of life for each person it serves.