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LEL Home Services, LLC
Frequently Asked Questions
How did
LEL come to be?
LEL Home
Services has been in existence since 1996. It
originated from an idea by Mrs. Edith Glover, who is a
parent of a man with a developmental disability. LEL
follows the assumption that persons with developmental
disabilities can most often be best served by their own
families or by close, trusted friends rather than
through impersonal provider companies who hire
strangers.
LEL does not
have employees. LEL Consultants are paid through a
contractual agreement and are considered to be
self-employed. This means that they are responsible for
meeting all requirements set forth by the State and
Federal guidelines, turning in all required
documentation, and scheduling with families.
This unique
structure depends upon family participation and
involvement. The main reason why families come to
prefer the LEL model is the peace of mind that comes
with having consultants with whom they are familiar. It
is important to have a high level of trust in the person
who is taking care of a loved one.
The
responsibility of coordinating the services is on the
family, working closely with an independent Targeted
Case Manager. Families are expected to locate their own
qualified Consultants and assist them in completing and
turning in all required materials. They need to work
with consultants to regularly schedule service hours,
maintain Blue Binders and legal documentation, and be
available to meet with the individual’s team on a
regular basis.
In addition
to this, each individual served by LEL is assigned a
Quality Assurance Consultant. It is the responsibility
of this person to meet with team members of each
individual at least every 45 days to assure that all
requirements under State and Federal laws are being
followed. It is also the Quality Assurance Consultant’s
duty to be a good team member, an advocate, a resource
person, and someone who can get questions answered.
What does
LEL stand for?
“LEL” stands
for Lyle, Edith and Lena. Lyle is the President of the
Company. Edith is the owner. Lena is the owner’s
mother.
Will LEL
help me find a provider?
Under normal
circumstances, a family has a trusted person in mind to
work with the individual – a parent, brother, sister,
aunt, uncle, etc., or trusted friend. The best
Consultants are those with whom families have had a
long-term relationship and already know them quite well.
In rare
circumstances, we have been able to introduce
Consultants to families who are looking for someone.
This is not the preferred situation, however, as these
scenarios tend to be less successful.
LEL does not
openly advertise for Consultant openings.
What if I
cannot locate a consultant?
We will be
glad to get word around (internally) that a family is
looking for a Consultant to work with a particular
person, in a particular location, for particular hours.
However, we cannot guarantee success in finding the
person you are looking for. You are usually better off
talking among your family members and friends, searching
your close community, churches, etc. for a trusted and
reliable person.
What do I
do if I have LEL sign up a caregiver and it does not
work out?
Satisfaction
with the Consultant’s performance and conduct is very
important. A discussion should occur to determine why
the Consultant is not working out. It is okay to bring
in a new Consultant (a qualified person who receives
orientation).
What is
the role of a Quality Assurance Consultant?
The Quality
Assurance Consultant meets with team members at least
every 45 days to assure that all requirements under
State and Federal laws are being followed. The Quality
Assurance Consultant is a team member, an advocate, a
resource person, and someone who can get questions
answered.
What is
the Blue Book (Blue Binder) for? Is the Blue Book for
the Consultant or for the individual?
The Blue
Book is for both the Consultant and the individual.
However, it is the Consultant who is responsible for
maintaining the information in the Blue Book (current
Notice of Action – NOA- updated forms, Consultation
Notes, etc.).
How will
I know how many hours I have available and how many have
been used?
Consultants
and family members are responsible for tracking hours
available and used. This can be found by checking the
most current Notice of Action (NOA). Case managers
should also regularly review services to determine
needs. Your Quality Assurance Consultant can assist you
in tracking budgeted hours using a utilization tracking
system. You could also create your own system that
works best for you.
LEL cannot
reimburse for hours that have not been approved by the
State. If hours are overused, then the Consultant will
simply not be reimbursed for the services. If hours are
underused, the State may eventually decide to take away
a part of the budget. This is why it is crucial for
everyone to be aware of the plan and to accurately track
and document hours.
Will LEL
provide services without a Plan of Care, Notice of
Action or Consultant Agreement?
No. The
above items are necessary to provide and bill for
services.
Why are
there constantly changes in the paperwork and
guidelines? It seems that every time I think I have
something figured out or understand it, it changes.
Since
services to people with developmental disabilities are
funded through government agencies, the services are
tied to political forces. This means that services will
always be in a state of dynamic change in which
providers need to stay flexible in order to respond to
changing needs. Guidelines and their interpretations
change monthly.
Effective
communication among Consultants, Quality Assurance
Consultants, and the LEL office is important to keep up
with changes and the reasons for them. If you have
questions, please direct them to the Administrative
Consultant, your Quality Assurance Consultant, or
another member of the Administrative Team.
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