 Profile
Since 1984, LRA has provided training and consultation in the development of incident management systems and conducting investigations in 40 states including the District of Columbia. Our clients primarily have been agencies providing care to the ill or disabled, protective services agencies, state and federal agencies with investigatory or oversight responsibilities, and advocacy groups. LRA’s involvement with state agencies has frequently been as the result of class action litigation where we provide training, consultation, ongoing support and review to assist states in their efforts to comply with settlement agreements. In addition to the President of the firm, LRA has nine associates with a variety of backgrounds and a breadth of experience that has contributed to LRA’s ability to effectively and innovatively serve its clients.
The following is a description of LRA’s training and consultation.
- Incident Management
- A comprehensive incident management system is the key to preventing harm. For care giving organizations, it is the equivalent of risk management in virtually every organizational context. LRA offers training and consultation to assist agencies in examining their existing incident management policies and procedures. Our services in this area are based on a complete set of standards which clearly delineate all elements that are essential to the implementation of a comprehensive and effective incident management system. These standards cover all aspects of incident management including definitions of incidents; employee responsibilities including reporting; incident report forms; external reporting and oversight; immediate incident review, response and follow-up; investigative procedures; analysis of incident data for trends and patterns; and, maintenance of incident records. For more information click here.
- Conducting Investigations
- Our basic investigations course, Conducting Serious Incident Investigations, has brought LRA national recognition for its expertise in the area of conducting investigations in human services agencies. This three-day course provides participants with the fundamental principles of conducting investigations and an opportunity for learning skills essential to collecting and analyzing evidence. An understanding of these techniques and procedures are essential if agencies are to reach sound and supportable conclusions and take appropriate action to protect those they serve from harm. LRA offers additional investigative programs including Advanced Course in Investigations and Weighing Evidence and Drawing Conclusions. We also provide an overview of investigative procedures to other staff who will not be conducting investigations but need to have a basic understanding of the process such as managers, administrators and direct care staff. Additional information about these activities can be found on this web site by clicking here.
- Certification Program for Investigators
- The certification process is designed to ensure that investigators have the necessary knowledge and skills to competently perform this function. Three levels of certification are available to those who have completed our three-day course, Conducting Serious Incident Investigations. For more information click here.
- Evaluating the Quality of Investigations
- LRA has developed a self-assessment and evaluation methodology which assists organizations in the effective implementation of the investigative function and provides objective, on-going feedback about the quality of investigations. This evaluation process serves two basic purposes. First, these standards provide guidance to individual investigators regarding the expectations for the performance of a quality investigation as well as serve as a self-assessment mechanism which can provide feedback to improve their skills. Secondly, this evaluation process can be used to assist those with responsibility for oversight and quality improvement of the investigative process. It can be used as part of the oversight effort at the highest level in the organization, providing a means by which the investigative system as a whole can be evaluated and the information used to monitor and, where needed, improve the quality of investigations. For more information click here.
- Additional Information
- Some of these programs are periodically advertised for open enrollment, but most are sponsored by an agency or group of agencies and held on-site. Please contact us if you would like to discuss scheduling a course for your agency. For example, our three-day course, Conducting Serious Incident Investigations, can cost as little as $150 per participant for a group of 30 participants. Smaller class sizes can also be arranged.
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