1. Training and Supervision
Melissa Deletetsky
Standards Development & Performance Measurement
September 2006
(A) Hello, my name is Melissa Deletetsky and I am a standards associate at the Council on Accreditation. I would like to welcome you to this self-paced presentation, designed to let you view each section of the standards at your convenience, and move as quickly or slowly through the material as you like. 
The presentation time is listed in the upper left hand corner of your screen. When you are finished viewing the slide presentation, you will receive instructions for how to print the slide show, if desired.

2. Service Delivery Administration and Management
Training and Supervision (TS)
Client Rights (CR)
Behavior Support and Management (BSM)
Administrative and Service Environment (ASE)
(B) The section we will be discussing in this session is Training and Supervision or TS. TS is one of COA’s four Service Delivery Administration and Management sections. These four sections are a cluster of standards that focus on special considerations for the delivery of all services. These standards are implemented along with the services an agency provides. These standards used to be known as “G” standards, which stood for “generic” but that term is no longer used. They also used to carry a number, in this case, G7, but as you can see that system has been replaced with an easy to remember abbreviation.
February 19
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Purpose
The organization supports staff and promotes staff competence by providing regular supervision and training on service delivery topics.
(C) The stated purpose of the training and supervision standards is: “The organization supports staff and promotes staff competence by providing regular supervision and training on service delivery topics.” By stating this purpose, COA is guiding your organization to consider: How does it create and maintain, monitor and measure the positive attributes of its training and supervision system? Are better program and service recipient outcomes associated with regular supervision and training?
February 19
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Defining “Personnel”
Personnel: all full- and part-time paid and unpaid employees
Direct Service Personnel: work directly with clients
Casual volunteers
Independent Contractors
First we should clarify the language used in this section. Unless otherwise stated, the standards within this section apply to all personnel throughout the organization. It includes both full- and part-time paid employees as well as unpaid volunteers. The term Direct service Personnel refers to employees who work directly with clients as well as the administrators and supervisors of direct service personnel. COA does not require casual volunteers to be included in the requirements of the standard. For instance, a volunteer who occasionally comes into the administrative office to help with large mailings is not required to fulfill the training and supervision requirements set up by this section. More detailed definitions can be found in the glossary.
People sometimes want to know how the training and supervision standards apply to contracted service providers. COA does not require that independent contractors participate in the organization’s training and supervision program. However, it is required that they meet the training and competency standards outlined by the section. For this reason, training and supervision expectations should be clearly stated in the contracts with all independent providers. The organization is responsible for regularly monitoring and evaluating the competency of contracted service providers and implementing corrective action as necessary. Some agencies choose to offer training to their contracted providers as a free, voluntary, training opportunity. A note describing this expectation can be found at the beginning of the TS section.
February 19
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5. Core Concept Highlights
Personnel development and training
Content of training program
Supervision
(D) Now we will begin to get into the scope of the standards. Core Concept standards in this section address the personnel development and training program, the content of the training program, and supervision requirements. Six 2nd order standards from the 7th edition have been regrouped into these 3 important concepts to decrease redundancy and improve clarity. For example, you will find that standards regarding the content of personnel orientation are now part of training content. It is important to note that the training and supervision standards share an interface with every service section. All services have a human resource or personnel section that addresses training and supervision issues relevant to that particular service. It is important to always be making the connection between these Training and Supervision standards and the section specific training and supervision requirements for each service the organization provides.
February 19
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6. © Council on Accreditation 2005 All Rights Reserved
Noteworthy Standards.
TS 3.02
When assigning supervisory responsibilities, the organization considers:
the qualifications of the worker and the supervisor;
the complexity and intensity of services; and
other organizational responsibilities.
Interpretation: Generally, supervisory ratios do not exceed 1:8.
(F) One standard of particular interest is TS 3.02, which takes a new approach to supervisory ratios. Rather than setting a rigid ratio, this standard outlines considerations that should be made when assigning supervisory responsibilities. Rather than basing assignments on a number, the standard requires that organizations consider: (a) the qualifications of the worker and the supervisor; (b) the complexity and intensity of services; and (c) other organizational responsibilities. This allows an agency to set up supervisory ratios that fit within its program design.
I would like to take this opportunity to once again highlight the connection between service specific personnel sections and TS. TS 3.02 is designed to guide organizations to create supervisory ratios that are appropriate to the specific program. The qualifications of workers and supervisors will be found in the personnel standards of each service section. The complexity and intensity of services is also dependent on the type of service being provided. A strong training and supervision program will be demonstrated by continuously making these connections between service delivery and administration and management.
February 19
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7. Fundamental Practice Standards
TS 2.02, 2.09, 3.02
Essential to practice
Must be implemented to achieve accreditation
See the accreditation guidelines for more information regarding fundamental practice standards
(E) One final note on standards content: There are three fundamental practice standards in the training and supervision section. TS 2.02, 2.09, and 3.02 are essential to practice and must be implemented to achieve accreditation. This reflects the significant impact that health, safety, and welfare have on the delivery of effective services in an organization.
February 19
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8. Standards Implementation
Evidence of Implementation
Pre-site
Training curricula
Organizational charts
Criteria for assigning supervision
On-site
Annual plan for training
Supervisory logs
Personnel interviews
(G) Once you have familiarized yourself with the content of the Training and Supervision standards, you will begin to focus on standards implementation. An example of important evidence of implementation that the organization will want to develop to promote a positive training and supervision program includes: training curricula, organizational charts that illustrate lines of supervision, and criteria for assigning supervisory responsibilities.
When the peer site team visits the organization they will be interested in looking at an annual plan for training programs. The interpretation to TS 1.01 requires that sufficient resources be allocated to support the personnel development and training program so you will also want to be prepared to provide a copy of the budget that clearly delineates funds that are appropriated for training and personnel development. Peers will also be interested in talking to supervisory personnel, direct service providers, and HR staff. Full information about pre-site documents and onsite activities is contained in the table of evidence.
February 19
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9. © Council on Accreditation 2005 All Rights Reserved
Thank you!
Council on Accreditation
120 Wall Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10005
(I) I would now like to welcome you to any questions you may have to myself or Alexis Cohen at the addresses shown. If you would like to print the slide show, click on the word attachments in the upper right hand corner and select the slide presentation.  Thank you for your interest in the new 8th Edition Training and Supervision standards.
February 19
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