Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 340 - Department of Human Services › Chapter 100 - Developmental Disabilities Services › Subchapter 6 - Group Home Regulations › Part 11 - PROGRAM STANDARDS › Section 340:100-6-55 - Staffing requirements

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
Group homes must employ sufficient staff who are
					 appropriately qualified and trained to provide the essential services of the
					 home.
(1)
Sufficient
				  staff.
The provider agency designates one person who, in the absence of
				  the agency administrator, is responsible for the administration of the agency
				  and is empowered to act on behalf of the provider agency.
(A) There must be at least one designated
				  person in charge of the home and its operation available for each home when
				  service recipients are present. Staff support and supervision must be provided
				  as needed for each service recipient in the home. Staff must be physically able
				  and mentally alert to carry out the duties of the job.
(B) In addition to direct support staff, each
				  service recipient in a group home must have a staff person who serves as
				  program coordinator. In addition to duties required by Oklahoma Administrative
				  Code (OAC)
				  340:100-5-52,
				  program coordination staff must:
(i) get to
				  know the service recipient and the service recipient's needs;
(ii) make announced and unannounced visits to
				  the group home that include a minimum of three monitoring visits per month, to
				  monitor the service recipient's needs and staff's need for supervision. The
				  visits occur at times when it would reasonably be anticipated that the majority
				  of the residents are home. Agency administration staff meeting the requirements
				  of this Section may complete these visits in addition to program coordination
				  staff. At least two of the visits must be unannounced, unless the:
(I) home has fully trained staff;
(II) home had no turn-over for the past
				  year;
(III) service recipients do
				  not require restrictive or intrusive procedures; and
(IV) there were no medication errors for the
				  previous year, in which case the unannounced visits may be reduced to one per
				  month. Of the unannounced visits, at least one visit must occur each month on
				  Saturday or Sunday or between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on a weekday;
(iii) provide support and
				  assistance to any service recipient who is experiencing an emotional,
				  behavioral, or medical crisis;
(iv)
				  be accessible to direct support staff 24 hours per day and available to
				  respond, in person when necessary, to an emergency;
(v) supervise direct support staff to promote
				  achievement of outcomes in the service recipient's Individual Plan
				  (Plan);
(vi) ensure staffing levels
				  meet the requirements of the service recipient's Plan, with staff trained per
				  OAC
				  340:100-3-38;
(vii) ensure each service recipient's needs
				  are always met including, but not limited to:
(I) utilities and phone service;
(II) furniture;
(III) food supplies that meet the service
				  recipient's nutritional needs;
(IV)
				  linens;
(V) personal
				  items;
(VI) adaptive equipment;
				  and
(VII) prescription
				  medications;
(viii)
				  assist the Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) case manager as requested
				  to prepare for and implement the service recipient's Plan and its revisions per
				  OAC
				  340:100-5-50
				  through
				  340:100-5-58;
(ix) ensure Oklahoma Department of Human
				  Services and Oklahoma Health Care Authority rules are followed; and
(x) complete necessary training per OAC
				  340:100-3-38.
(C) Service recipients do not
				  supervise other service recipients.