Why Choose TAI?

Consumers, family members and service case managers have a myriad of providers to choose from, some are large providers providing services in other states, some are similar in size to TAI, while others are much smaller in size and/or may service a specialty area.  Some have been in business many years and are very established, while others are newer to the industry.  What this means is those making decisions regarding selecting a home and service provider must educate themselves on the options available, then prioritize what is most important to them.  Once this has been determined, the process of matching priorities and values begins, to assure the best possible services and home are selected.

Thomas Allen, Inc. understands the overwhelming magnitude of this task!  We understand the emotions involved in making this decision.  We can appreciate the challenges inherent, and the time constraints that may prevent consumers, family members and case managers from fully exploring all alternatives.  To assist you, we have summarized below many of the advantages we can offer to you.

Consistency

Thomas Allen, Inc. is known throughout the 7-County Metro area, as well as in several out-state counties as a provider of quality, client-driven services.  While we realize those are only words, and many providers may make similar statements, we can share many references and testimonials to support this claim.  While our agency would be considered medium to large-size, we operate on a daily basis as a small, close-knit company.  Our company was founded by two owners, both of whom remain involved with the company.  We have one corporate office where key administrative team members work from, which promotes close communication and teamwork.  We have two working committees that make major decisions concerning the overall agency operation, as well as the various service locations and departments within the company.  Our Ad Hoc committee meets monthly and our Administrative Team meets bi-monthly; this promotes and reinforces consistency in our application of standards, philosophy, policy and ascertains that the interpretation and implementation of regulations is congruent with our practices.

Experience

Another advantage we will share with you is our experience.  Thomas Allen, Inc. has been in business for over 30 years.  During that time we have continued to grow, but making certain that our growth was tempered with the ability to provide the same level of service quality.  As with any learning experience, we have grown through our mistakes; we have learned that to provide a high level of service delivery, we must provide a high level of training, respect and trust to our employees.  It is their motivation, their knowledge, their initiative and their commitment to excellence that makes this company successful.  Therefore, we have put forth considerable energy to enhance our employee recruitment and retention efforts.  We have developed recognition programs that commend merit and longevity, among many others.  We have developed an outstanding training program, both in-house and offering public training on related topics.  Our employees frequently commend our extensive orientation program that is two-fold, offering a standard orientation to all employees by our HR department, as well as the Training Director.  It is completed through onsite training with their supervisor and often a Nurse Consultant. This translates into staff who are knowledgeable and confident, and clients whose needs are attended to and who feel respected, listened to and understood.  We are known in the industry for providing quality speakers on related industry topics through our public training division.  Many smaller agencies use our training department to augment their training resources.

We have worked with many different developmental disability diagnoses, and related conditions.  We have also worked with a myriad of mental health diagnoses.  Many clients have dual diagnoses.  We also have experience with many medical and health challenges including asthma, diabetes, seizures and many others.  We have clients who are medically fragile and live in a home staffed 24 hours with licensed nurses.  We have clients who have sensory impairments including being deaf and legally blind.

Communication

Communication is an integral component in any service delivery, as well as a successful business.  You can be assured of emphasis on strong communication throughout our agency.  Our Supervised Living Services (SLS) divisions are mandated to make regular, minimally monthly contact with family/guardians and case managers.  This may be a brief check in and status update on new skills and accomplishments, or it can include a sharing of concerns or suggestions.  The key point is to keep the lines of communication open.  We also know that informed staff provide the best care, therefore our divisions hold regular, generally monthly, staff meetings at every level. (administrative, management, and program staff.)  Key changes in policies, practices, forms, structure, etc., as well as relevant training are provided at these meetings by division supervisory staff.  We also publish a monthly newsletter which is posted onsite at each program division and is available on the TAI web page. Our web page is another tool we use to enhance communication throughout our agency, while also communicating key information to families, case managers and other ancillary service providers.

Family Involvement

Family involvement and validation is emphasized throughout our orientation of new employees, as well as in ongoing service delivery.  We recognize that our role is to support your family values and practices to the best of our ability, with the staffing and other resources available to us.  We begin this by asking family members to complete a Values and Interests form as part of the Application for Residential Services.  This becomes part of their permanent file.  We encourage family involvement as discussed within our Philosophy section in the About TAI section.  Family members are also invited to be a part of our agency Advisory Council which meets quarterly.  For those interested in topic discussions, meeting minutes can be mailed to any interested families.

Agency Size – Consultative Resources

Our agency size offers many advantages.  We have many internal resources and professionals that we can use and consult with as needed.  As a thriving agency we strive to enhance our existing services, while adding services that will address diverse needs, thereby assuring our agency of sustained stability as well as measured growth.  This has been realized through our many varied residential services, our inhome support services, the delivery of guardianship and conservatorship services, contracted case management, and public training services. Through these varied services and divisions TAI employs psychologists, behavior analysts, registered and licensed nurses, and a large base of supervisory staff with degrees in related disciplines from education to recreational therapy to psychology to social work to human services among many, many more disciplines – some licensed, some not.

Agency Size – Staff Resources

Our size also offers many advantages in terms of staff resources.  As we provide services throughout the metro area, and work with every metro county, we often have multiple programs in one geographical area.  This allows us to cross train our employees in homes that are located nearby; and provide stable staffing and minimize the chance of a home having to work “short staffed” due to an employee illness or vacation.  Additionally, TAI developed an internal Float Staff division as an additional resource to support programs who may be experiencing a staff shortage.  This allows us to provide a high level of quality staff trained in TAI policy and procedures rather than use outside temp staff agencies.  Another advantage is that in many homes, due to the work primarily being afternoons, evenings and weekends, it can be difficult to have enough hours to offer many attractive, full-time positions.  Our agency size allows us to offer staff the opportunity to create full time positions by working combined hours in one or more homes; this promotes staff retention.  We are also able to offer staff many opportunities for career growth and advancement, which also encourages staff retention within our agency.  Along with these advantages, we are able to offer tangibles and well as non-tangibles to staff that support them, value them, and show that TAI does recognize and appreciate the individual contributions made.  Examples include our Rookie and Employee of the Month awards, Team of the Quarter recognition and party, our Employee of the Year recognition, opportunities for Merit wage increases, Bonus Pay, education reimbursement, and others.  We also use a 60 Day employee feedback tool to encourage employees to communicate whether the job is what they had understood it to be when hired, and if not, are there areas they desire more support and training.  It also invites sharing ideas for agency improvement in our training, our policies and practices, etc.  This is one attempt to encourage employee retention, as studies have shown that most employees leave within the first 90 days of employment if they are not satisfied.

Quality Control

Quality client-driven services are measured through a variety of internal quality control programs.  First, we use a Survey of Services to assess the level of satisfaction from clients’ guardians and case managers.  We use the feedback provided to bolster needed areas and to reinforce current practices that are working well.  Additionally, we use internal audits to closely monitor client financial management and recordkeeping for all clients that TAI supervises financially.  These are typically completed every six months.  We also complete an annual file audit to assure general recordkeeping and documentation is compliant with agency policies and regulatory standards.  The program director also completes an annual onsite audit of the physical plant including cleanliness and maintenance, dietary management, medication administration, incident reporting, programming and a number of other key areas.  Following all onsite audits, a 30 day period is provided to assure necessary follow up, then a follow up audit is completed to make certain that any deficiency areas have been addressed.

Client Driven Services

Client driven services are demonstrated even prior to clients moving into our residential homes.  Clients are given an opportunity to personalize their bedroom with paint color and wall borders.  Often, they are able to select their own comforter and linens and towels.  When homes are refurbished, the clients are involved in the selection of carpet color, furniture style and color, etc.  Many of our homes were named by the clients living in them at the time services were initiated.  We reinforce how important this is at their 45 Day planning meeting and annually thereafter with the Person Centered Planning Tool.  This is a 2 page document that elicits feedback from the client on their interests, dreams, goals and preferences.  It also allows them an opportunity to be part of the team in identifying meeting dates and times that work best, meeting location preference, whether they choose to serve refreshments at the meeting, and if so, what they wish to serve.  They are also able to select what type of meeting invitation they prefer to send.  The feedback from this tool is then discussed as a team at the planning meeting and becomes part of their annual provider implementation plan (PIP).

Summary: Why Choose TAI

In summary, TAI implements a number of practices to assure services are of a high quality, and that they remain client driven.  Our experience, size and emphasis on frequent communication offer many advantages.  Our training programs and employee resources promote retention of informed staff who are caring and offer professionalism.
Our emphasis on family involvement and communication reinforce that TAI is here to assist the clients we serve in becoming as independent as possible, while supporting the values and practices of his/her family, to the degree possible.