Retainer Contract

Contracting with a CARF Consultant for a Retainer Contract service for a specific period is another way that your  organization can obtain a high return on investment.  This type of retainer is not a deposit related to a specific project.  Rather, the this is for access to the Consultant and her expertise for a pre-determined period of time.  (A draft of the Consulting Agreement with fees is first provided to the Customer for review and approval.)  The fee is paid when the Consulting Agreement is signed and before services are provided.

Another way to obtain high ROI and cost-effective results.

With the Retainer Contract service, no specific project is identified.  You and other authorized staff have access to the CARF consultant for advice on any topic during the Retainer Contract period.*  This can be especially important in the months prior to a CARF accreditation survey or re-survey.  The Consultant can review your organization’s previous Accreditation Report and assist with addressing the recommendations received.  This can include review of existing forms and documents, administrative plans, program plans,  other items, and interpretation of the CARF standards as well as a brief review of selected policies and procedures.  With the Customer’s approval, changes can be made to these by the Consultant in order to more clearly indicate conformance to the CARF standards.

Access to the CARF Consultant (e.g., hours available and authorized staff) will be outlined in the Consulting Agreement.  Prompt  responsiveness by the Consultant to your inquiries is important.  The consulting services via Retainer Contract can be accomplished on-site as well as off-site.  (It is anticipated that the majority of the contact will be via phone calls and e-mail.)  If discrete projects are identified during the course of the retainer period, options for completion of the new project will be discussed (e.g., identification of internal staff or a new Consulting Agreement or Addendum with the CARF Consultant).

Effectiveness of the consulting services will be reviewed with you periodically throughout the Retainer Contract period.  Several weeks before the end of the Retainer Contract period, the CARF Consultant will contact you to review interest in continuing the consulting services.

* Note.  The Retainer Contract service does not include the following, which would be considered separate projects for pre-determined fees.

• Developing any of the six CARF required administrative plans and/or providing the Consultant’s templates for the plans.
• Developing any of the CARF required policies and procedures.  (Exceptions can be made at the discretion of the Consultant.)
• A comprehensive review of the organization’s entire Policy and Procedure Manual (i.e., all policies and procedures).
• Developing or administering Client, Employee, or Stakeholder Satisfaction Surveys.
• Developing any of the CARF required Program Plans.

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