House Checks and Dorm Checks

Goal - why is this important to us?

To ensure the health and safety of our clients and to promote the culture of recovery.

Ingredients - what do I need to get started?

• Gloves
• Trash bag
• Farm: Two clinical or support staff present during check. The assigned weekly “hall monitors” are responsible for the routine facility checks. For “concern checks”, any available clinical/support staff should participate to keep the process timely.
• Spera: One staff person to check dorms

Timeframe - about how long will this take?

Spera: 15-30 minutes

Farm: 30 minutes - 2 hours

Contacts - who do I need to let know?

Inform supervisor if something concerning is found and complete incident report as necessary.

Steps - what do I do?

1. Wait for dorm to be vacant (clients at meeting, in group, at a meal, etc)
2. Get gloves and trash bags
3. Let co-workers know we are going to check the dorms
4. Be mindful of what you are looking for, including food, beverages, wet towels on floor, drugs/meds, alcohol, cell phones, electronic device of any kind, non-recovery/non-spiritual literature, any contraband, messy bed area, chewing tobacco, any unapproved item, pornography, credit card, excess money, paraphernalia, object that can be used as a weapon, etc.
5. If anything is confiscated:
   • Spera: Remove item from dorm area and discuss with client what was found.
   • Farm: Found items should go to the office for the clinicians to decide how to present the items to their owners. Items that are permitted will be returned or locked up. Unclaimed items will be disposed of.
   • Drugs, alcohol and paraphernalia will be disposed of using the SOP.
   • If something is found that my lead to discharge. notify co-workers and Supervisor
6. When the dorm check is prompted by specific concerns - a “concern check,” make sure to check specific areas, including ceiling tiles, trays under beds, under mattresses, bedding, pillows, bathrooms, under sinks, cubbies, closets, drawers, above emergency lights, behind toilet and in back of toilet, trash cans, biohazard disposal, behind pictures, shoes, wallets, coat pockets, behind freezers in pantry, etc.

Follow-up - what loose ends do I need to wrap up?

Discuss items found with client or team members and complete incident reports as needed. Discard items that are not permitted, following appropriate SOP

CARF Standards -

2.A.25.a

3.H.21

3.Q.10