The Standards of Practice and Performance for Life Care Planners
As life care planning continues to evolve, standards of practice and performance continue to be evaluated and revised. The Standards of Practice and Performance for Life Care Planners were updated in September of 2022. The most recent published standards of practice and performance intend to follow an objective, thorough process that is inclusive of as many practitioners of life care planning as feasible (Journal of Life Care Planning, Volume 20, No 3). The standards reflect the growing diversity of professional backgrounds and expertise within the life care planning community. The standards guide the diverse professionals engaged in life care planning with concise, streamlined methodology. The standards include both Standards of Performance and Standards of Practice.
The Standards of Performance are intended to outline competency levels, skills, and behaviors that are expected of a life care planner. They include:
The life care planner has an educational background and professional preparation suitable for life are planning.
The life care planner practices within their professional scope of practice.
The life care planner must have skill and knowledge to understand the health care needs addressed in a life care plan.
The life care planner shall practice in an ethical manner and follow the Code of Ethics of their respective professions, rules, certifications, and credentials.
The life care planner uses the scientific principles of medicine, rehabilitation, and health care as a basis for life care planning.
The life care planner considers cultural and linguistic factors that may influence the assessment, development, and implementation of the plan.
The above Standards of Performance provide ways that the life care planner demonstrates compliance with the below Standards of Practice.
The life care planner facilitates understanding of the life care planning process.
The life care planner establishes working expectations with the referring party.
The life care planner performs a comprehensive assessment through the process of data collection involving multiple elements and sources.
The life care plan analyzes data using a consistent, valid, and reliable process.
The life care planner uses a consistent, valid, and reliable approach to determining the evaluee’s needs.
The life care planner seeks collaboration.
The life care planner uses a consistent, valid, and reliable approach to costs.
The life care planner communicates their opinions.
The life care planner ensures that opinions and work product are congruent, consistent, and follow accepted methodological practices.
The life care planner, as an educator, facilitates understanding of the life care planning process, the life care plan, and work product.
The life care planner may engage in forensic applications.
Following the Standards of Practice and Performance eliminates the potential for adverse outcomes, including the inadmissibility of the life care plan. By following the standards, all life care planners, regardless of professional training or background, have a solid foundation to ensure their work products are credible, usable, valid, and reliable.