Page 21 - QVM - Quality, Value and Metrics - November 29, 2017 2
P. 21
QVM - Quality, Value, and Metrics
How are the skills and competencies needed by legal staff established?
Programs have processes for determining the skills and competencies needed across
staff to provide their scope of services. Legal practice statements and ABA guidelines are
good resources for identifying needed skills and competencies. This information is
reviewed periodically and is available to all staff.
How are the skills and competencies needed by legal staff maintained?
Maintenance of skills and competencies can be addressed in a number of ways, such as
continuing education, mentoring, in-services, and providing a minimum number of
services or procedures. It is important that programs provide ways for professionals to
maintain skills and competencies as well as to develop new ones when needed.
The program assumes responsibility for providing opportunities for continued
professional growth and development for staff at all levels of the organization.
How does the program provide for continued professional growth and development of
staff?
Providing high-quality legal services requires continued professional learning. Programs
can support continued learning by providing financial support, release time, on-site
training, mentoring or sharing of legal expertise, journal clubs, client staffing, in-
services, and other activities and materials that result in the acquisition or refinement of
knowledge and skills. A variety of educational resources and learning opportunities are
available for staff, taking into account individual learning styles and needs. Programs
usually maintain annual records of staff continuing education activities.
Written business policies and records are maintained and updated on a periodic basis.
How are the quality program’s business policies established?
Programs that are part of a larger organization typically have business policies and
procedures that have been developed by the institution, while independent programs
develop policies and procedures appropriate to their setting and needs. In both cases,
business policies address issues including, but not limited to, position descriptions,
vacation and sick time, benefits, business records, grievances, and leaves of absence.
Business records include evidence of current licensure, continuing education,
certification, or other requirements. Policies provide for periodic staff performance
appraisals.
What procedures are in place for maintaining and updating business records?
The content of business records and the individual's access to the records are specified
by business policies. Each employee's business file may include items such as hiring
documents (e.g., curriculum vitae, contract, and position description), copies of
credentials (e.g., ABA certification, state license, and continuing education records),
salary information, individual staff member goals, and documentation and results of
periodic reviews. The business file includes records of changes or updates for these
items.
Individual staff workloads are adjusted to achieve a balance between program needs
and available professionals without compromising the quality of service delivery.
20
How are the skills and competencies needed by legal staff established?
Programs have processes for determining the skills and competencies needed across
staff to provide their scope of services. Legal practice statements and ABA guidelines are
good resources for identifying needed skills and competencies. This information is
reviewed periodically and is available to all staff.
How are the skills and competencies needed by legal staff maintained?
Maintenance of skills and competencies can be addressed in a number of ways, such as
continuing education, mentoring, in-services, and providing a minimum number of
services or procedures. It is important that programs provide ways for professionals to
maintain skills and competencies as well as to develop new ones when needed.
The program assumes responsibility for providing opportunities for continued
professional growth and development for staff at all levels of the organization.
How does the program provide for continued professional growth and development of
staff?
Providing high-quality legal services requires continued professional learning. Programs
can support continued learning by providing financial support, release time, on-site
training, mentoring or sharing of legal expertise, journal clubs, client staffing, in-
services, and other activities and materials that result in the acquisition or refinement of
knowledge and skills. A variety of educational resources and learning opportunities are
available for staff, taking into account individual learning styles and needs. Programs
usually maintain annual records of staff continuing education activities.
Written business policies and records are maintained and updated on a periodic basis.
How are the quality program’s business policies established?
Programs that are part of a larger organization typically have business policies and
procedures that have been developed by the institution, while independent programs
develop policies and procedures appropriate to their setting and needs. In both cases,
business policies address issues including, but not limited to, position descriptions,
vacation and sick time, benefits, business records, grievances, and leaves of absence.
Business records include evidence of current licensure, continuing education,
certification, or other requirements. Policies provide for periodic staff performance
appraisals.
What procedures are in place for maintaining and updating business records?
The content of business records and the individual's access to the records are specified
by business policies. Each employee's business file may include items such as hiring
documents (e.g., curriculum vitae, contract, and position description), copies of
credentials (e.g., ABA certification, state license, and continuing education records),
salary information, individual staff member goals, and documentation and results of
periodic reviews. The business file includes records of changes or updates for these
items.
Individual staff workloads are adjusted to achieve a balance between program needs
and available professionals without compromising the quality of service delivery.
20
