SERVICE DELIVERY FILE REVIEW POLICY
Regular review of program files for compliance with agency policies and procedures and National Standards is a critical strategy in helping to ensure that children and youth are safe.
File reviews also offer supervisors an opportunity to assess staff competencies, training needs, and identify areas for potential improvement in the quality of service delivered to our children/youth and volunteers.
PURPOSE
The purpose of a file review is to:
1. Assess for compliance to and knowledge of National Standards and agency policies and procedures;
2. Quality assurance
3. Identification of risk
GUIDELINES
% of active files are reviewed within each 6 month period striving for a goal of 100% compliance with National Standards and agency policies and procedures.
Various types of files must be selected for review, including:
active community-based matches/files at different stages of development;
active site-based matches/files at different stages of development,
re-matched Mentor and Mentee files;
matched files that include a transition from site-based mentoring programs to community-based programs;
files that resulted in pre-mature closure;
and files that involve staff and/or board members serving as Mentors
A checklist of mandatory forms will be completed for each file.
The review must assess for compliance to and knowledge of the agency’s local policies and procedures, as well as adherence to National Standards.
The review must assess individual staff competencies in terms of demonstrated understanding of the indicators of a healthy match, and a consistent ability to apply sound critical thinking skills in performing enrollment and match support functions.
o Identify areas for potential improvement
o Identify barriers to match continuation in matches that are closed in under a year.
The supervisor may choose to increase the number of audits for a specific staff person based on any concerns or issues that have been identified. In future reviews, improvements in the areas where deficiencies were noted should be documented.
Reviews will be conducted by Mentoring Coordinators. Reviews can be conducted by supervisors, Executive Directors, audit or risk management committees of the Board of Directors and/ or by peers within the agency or within a neighboring agency.
In addressing quality match support as it relates to child and youth protection, reviewers should be looking for documentation in the Match Support Framework (see appendix AA) of any identified risks in the area of Activities; Consistency; Closeness; Youth Centeredness, Structure, Duration and Expectations; and Safety as a result of an assessment of these areas.
Documentation of the review must be maintained, including the date of the review, reviewer’s name and title, and a notation of any deficiencies found. In future reviews, improvements in the areas where deficiencies were noted should be documented.