Recipient Rights - Friend or Foe?
Are you kidding me? Friend? It seems more like a foe that bullies and batters. One that creates confusion and frustration.
But what if I told you there is a way for Recipient Rights to become a friend? What if they could be an extension of your team, instead of a thorn in your side?
After speaking with Angie, the Recipient Rights Officer at Montcalm Care Network, she reviewed the State standards of Recipient Rights. She outlined the following 3 steps to make Recipient Rights the friend you didn't know you have:
1. Build relationships
Whether you are contracted with different CMH agencies or take private pay, introduce yourself to your Rights Officer. Within 10 days of placement with a CMH agency, you should receive your posters, booklets, and incident reporting process.
Call them if they don't contact you first. Not sure who to call, here's the link to find out: Recipient Rights Contacts.
Also, consider inviting them to fun events with your staff to get to know the recipients and staff in a casual way.
2. Communicate
Eliminate the hard conversations that occur because "I didn't know". Ask your Rights Officer questions about your contract and situations you are encountering.
A good rights officer will help advocate and protect your residents instead of creating trouble. Reach out to them for help to accomplish this goal.
Prevent unexpected conversations with Recipient Rights by following the incident report cheat sheet protocol.
