TOPIC: ACTION FOR CHILDREN

Analysis of Management Issues in Action for Children (NCH)



Analysis of Management Issues in Action for Children (NCH)

Introduction

Action for Children (formerly NCH) is a national UK charity working with children and young people. Operating in 24 countries, it was founded in 1869 by Methodist minister Thomas Bowman Stephenson in London (UK) as the Children's Home. Its original focus was on providing residential care, but that changed over time. Now, most of the organisation's work is working with families or young people in their own homes or non-residential facilities, in partnership with statutory bodies.

Networks, Accreditation, and Credentialing

To join an 's network of providers and negotiate contract specific NCH minimum standards for staff credentials and program accreditation must be met. These minimum standards generally are not negotiable because they have their basis in that NCH's accreditation requirements. The provider credentialing requirements vary by NCH and by customer within the NCH and often include primary verification of specific academic degrees or specific levels of licensure for staff, as well as verified minimum levels of malpractice insurance. Some NCHs may use what are called independent Credentialing Verification Organizations (CVOs) for this process. These CVOs verify the credentials of providers on behalf of NCHs to ensure, for example, that their licenses are valid and up to date.

NCHs sometimes are not familiar with substance abuse treatment and, moreover, typically include only those types of providers that are licensed by a given State to engage in private practice in their provider networks. Usually such providers are licensed in psychology, nursing, medicine, or social work. NCHs explain that this has to do with malpractice insurance issues. This credentialing practice has a disproportionate impact on those substance abuse treatment providers that do not have as many staff with these credentials as do mental health providers, by presenting an obstacle to contracting with these NCHs. However, it is not an insurmountable obstacle. Substance abuse treatment providers often must help NCHs understand the substance abuse treatment environment, the types of providers that deliver services and the qualifications and standards they must meet so that the NCH can modify its policies appropriately. NCHs often are more willing to contract with organizations that have a facility license from their State than with individual substance abuse treatment providers who may not possess credentials that meet the NCH's licensure criteria.

Many managed care plans have separate provider networks for behavioural health services. It is important for detoxification providers to participate in both medical and behavioural health networks, given that detoxification benefits may be considered either medical or behavioural benefits.

In addition to the credentials of the staff and practitioners, the program itself may have to be accredited by one of the major national healthcare accrediting organizations. These include the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. In general, accreditation from CARF is considered most important by substance abuse treatment providers for their programs. However, providers that wish to offer inpatient detoxification ...