Posted By Philip McAleenan Sarah Accidents and accident rates are failure indicators and thus negative monitoring of performance. To achieve a positive measuring/assessment of performance consider setting targets that are the detailed performance requirements that should be achieved by designated persons or teams in order to implement the plan. The plan should specify who is to do what, by when and with what result. Thus, by way of example, a key objective may be that all workers are trained, assessed and certified fit and competent to provide a specific service (e.g., assisting people in/out of bed, wheel chairs etc.) within 6 months. The results or outcomes expected will be documentation of who has been trained, when it took place and the assessment results, including certificates. A plan will be drawn up to achieve this objective and within that plan will be targets such as: 1 Prepare a list of all those to be trained, 2 Obtain evidence of medical and physical fitness to carry out this type of task, 3 Schedule training dates, 4 Appoint trainers and assessors, 5 Notify all listed employees of training dates, 6 Provide training venue, equipment etc. 7 Carry out training and assessment, 8 Obtain assessment documentation and certificates, 9 Review the outcomes and prepare any necessary remedial actions (e.g. where one or more failed any element of the fitness or assessment procedures). Thus we can see that by setting a clear objective or standard, namely that all care workers are fit and competent to assist people in/out of bed or wheelchair, the performance requirements to achieve that objective follow. And by monitoring each performance requirement in turn we can effectively measure progress towards achieving the key objective. And of course once the objectives has been achieved, a new objective can be agreed, for example, maintain the level of competence and fitness to carry out this work amongst all care workers, and corresponding targets to achieve this drawn up. This approach will apply to all elements of the company’s business in varying degrees of complexity, and can be used strategically and managerially. Regards, Philip