Ability Beyond > Resource Center > Closing Sheltered Workshops > Assess Organizational Capacity
Enlarge text A A A
Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint

Assess Organizational Capacity

Assessing Your Organization

Prior to beginning any organizational project, it is important to have a clear understanding of where you currently stand in relation to your end goal, as well as have an understanding of the various resources necessary to make your project successful.

Establish Key Perfomance Indicators (KPIs)

Key Performance Indicators A Key Performance Indicator allows your organization to monitor your success in a key area, or success towards achieving an objective.

Assess Financial Capacity

Financial Assessment Tool The Financial Assessment template will help your organization get started on what the overall cost and/or projected savings would be after closing your sheltered workshop.
download

Organization Assessment Questions

This section consists of seven groups of questions that will help you assess your organizational capacity for closing your workshop and enhancing community integration.

Download organization assessment questions

Organization Assessment Questions

icon
Transportation

Transportation
Assess the current status of your organization’s transportation system and the future transport needs for closing sheltered workshop.

Things To Consider

  • Do you have a transportation fleet that can accommodate the number of individuals you serve, taking into account the new grouping structures as they access the community?
  • Are you aware of the public transportation that is available in your area and could be a resource for the individuals you support in accessing the community?
  • Do your staff have the correct license endorsements and insurance requirements for the vehicles they will be driving and the type of work they will doing?
  • Are you prepared or do you have a plan in place to support the scheduling needs of transportation (i.e., dispatch system)?

icon
Financial

Assess the costs to provide the new services against your budget, funding and development.

Things To Consider

  • Will the rate of reimbursement for community services cover the cost to provide the services?
  • Are you aware of how the changes to community-based services will impact your financials?
  • Have you reviewed each individual’s funding/budget to make sure their budget meets their needs?
  • Do you have a skilled grant writer on your team to assist with funds development?
  • Have you considered what to do with your current workshop space once the transition to the community has occurred?

icon
Staffing

Assess your current staffing capacity and your ability to support community integration requirements.

Things To Consider

  • Are you aware of your current requirements for staffing for the models of service(s) you will be providing?
  • Do you have enough staff to meet staffing requirements while in the community?
  • Are your staff trained and prepared to offer community based supports?
  • Do you have staff prepared and trained to develop/increase community resources and job matches for the individuals you support?
  • Have you reviewed and updated staff job descriptions and expectations to match the new community requirements?

icon
Community Resources

Assess your existing community resources and the capacity for developing required resources.

Things To Consider
  • Are your existing community resources prepared and willing to meet the increased need your programs will have?
  • Do you need to develop more employment opportunities for the individuals you support?
  • Do you need to develop more volunteer opportunities for the individuals you support?
  • Do you need to develop more recreational opportunities for the individuals you support?
  • Do you have dedicated staff that are experienced in site development and relationship building who can develop additional opportunities if they are needed?

icon
Buy-In

Assess the buy-in from staff, the people you serve and their families, and other stakeholders.

Things To Consider

  • Have you considered strategies to address buy in?
  • Are the individuals you support feeling positive about the change to the community-based opportunities?
  • Is your staff feeling positive about the change to community-based opportunities?
  • Are the families of the individuals you support feeling positive about the change to community-based opportunities?
  • Do you have stakeholders that do not want the sheltered workshops to close?
  • Has anyone from your leadership team worked with community leaders to inform them of the upcoming changes in their communities?

icon
Funders

Assess your funders awareness and program regulations and requirements.

Things To Consider

  • Are you currently working with your funder to make sure that you have all approvals in place to move forward with the process?
  • Are your funders aware of your timeline?
  • Do you have a clear understanding of all regulations regarding the services you will be providing, including documentation?
  • Are you aware of all current, relevant legislation impacting your services?

icon
Individuals Served

Assess your ability to support the goals and preferences of the people you support and your ability to meet their needs.

Things To Consider

  • Do you have an understanding of the individual goals and preferences of the people you support?
  • Are you equipped to meet individual’s protocols while out in the community?
  • Do you have a method to collect information regarding individual’s satisfaction with their supports?
  • Have you thought about how staff will access individual’s protocols while out in the community?

back
img img