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Re-accreditation by CARF
3 July 2009
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The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities (CARF) has announced that BIRT has been re-accredited for a period
of three years for all its services. |
BIRT was the first brain injury rehabilitation service
in England to receive the prestigious CARF accreditation in March 2006, and
this latest accreditation follows a re-survey of our services earlier this year.
What is CARF?
CARF is an independent, non-for-profit organisation founded in 1966 in the United States that promotes quality rehabilitation services.
It does this by establishing standards of quality for organisations to use as guidelines in developing and offering their services to service users, their families, referrers, funders and other stakeholders.
CARF uses the standards to determine how well an organisation is serving its stakeholders and how it can improve. For more information see www.carf.org
BIRT's strengths
Part of the survey process involves CARF identifying strengths of the organisation. BIRT services were identified as:
having a dedicated group of professionals who are commited to providing
effective service delivery focused on the needs of the service user
having enthusiastic teams that are passionate about rehabilitation, where
team members consistently seek new ways to improve the outcomes of service
users
being very responsive to service users' needs and preferences
allowing service users to have uninterrupted service through the BIRT continuum,
even as the condition of the service user changes
making exceptional efforts to make the programmes accessible to persons
with physical impairments
identiyfing potential barriers to achievement of predicted outcomes for
each service user, ensuring they are addressed and well integrated into the
plan of care by the survey team
having an extended continuum of care addressing the needs of the persons
with brain injury from sub-acute to long-term care.
CARF also complimented the organisation on:
implementation of outstanding policies promoting the confidentiality and
privacy of those served and freedom from abuse
its structured education programmes for anger management and brain injury
education for service users, these being well-prepared, organised as teaching
tools and effectively incorporating multimedia and self-examinations
its active involvement in ongoing projects, electronically based campaigns
and programmes to promote brain injury awareness, advocacy and prevention.
What does CARF mean for BIRT?
BIRT prides itself on delivering rehabilitation services of the highest quality for people with acquired brain injury. The CARF accreditation is therefore a very clear reaffirmation of the quality of our services across clinical and business practices to the outside world.
The assessment process was carried out by people who work in the field of rehabilitation, namely through peer review. It was also heavily focused on service user input and service user rights.
Ultimately, the achievement will mean an even better service for our service users, as well as providing reassurance for their families and enhancing our credibility with other stakeholders.
Which services are accredited?
BIRT’s residential and community based services are accredited as follows:
Daniel
Yorath House, Leeds
York House, York
Redford Court and Redford Court Lodge, Liverpool
Fen House, Ely
Goole Neuro Rehabilitation Centre, Ely
West Heath House, Birmingham
Thomas Edward Mitton House, Milton Keynes
Kent House, Aylesbury
Kerwin Court, Horsham
The Woodmill, Devon
Community Supported Housing in Sunderland, Carlisle, Blackpool, York, Leeds, Birmingham, Devon, West Sussex and Essex and home support packages throughout England and Wales.
Commenting on the accreditation BIRT's Service Director Lynn Turley said: “Achieving this prestigious accreditation recognises the enormous contribution made by BIRT staff teams and their continuing commitment to Service Users.”
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