Texas Administrative Code › Title 26 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › Part 1 - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION › Chapter 550 - LICENSING STANDARDS FOR PRESCRIBED PEDIATRIC EXTENDED CARE CENTERS › Subchapter C - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Division 3 - NURSING AND STAFFING REQUIREMENTS › Section 550.415 - Staffing Policies for Staff Orientation, Development, and Training

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
(a) A center must
					 adopt and enforce a written staffing policies and procedures that govern all
					 staff providing services on behalf of the center, including employees,
					 volunteers, and contractors.
(b) A
					 center's written staffing policies must include:
(1) requirements for orientation to the
					 policies, procedures, and objectives of the center;
(2) requirements and procedures for
					 processing criminal history checks;
(3) requirements that staff are current on
					 immunizations;
(4) requirements
					 that an applicant for employment provide written documentation to rule out
					 communicable diseases, including but not limited to tuberculosis;
(5) requirements for direct care staff to
					 demonstrate the necessary skills and competency to meet the direct care needs
					 of a minor to which he or she is assigned and as described in their job
					 description;
(6) requirements for
					 staff to participate in appropriate employee development programs
					 quarterly;
(7) requirements for
					 participation by all staff in job-specific training;
(8) staff training policies that ensure:
(A) staff are properly oriented to tasks
					 performed;
(B) demonstration of
					 competency for tasks when competency cannot be determined through education,
					 license, certification, or experience;
(C) quarterly continuing systemic training
					 for all staff who provide services, including training on infection prevention
					 and control;
(D) staff are informed
					 of changes in techniques, philosophies, organization, minor's rights, ethics
					 and confidentiality, medical record requirements, information relating to
					 minor's development, goals, and products relating to a minor's care;
(E) staff are properly oriented and trained
					 in the proper use of person-centered direction and guidance as outlined in
					 center policy and in accordance with § 550.206 of this subchapter
					 (relating to Person-Centered Direction and Guidance);
(F) staff are properly oriented and trained
					 in the proper use and application of protective devices; and
(G) staff are properly oriented and trained
					 in the proper use and application of restraints in accordance with the
					 following requirements:
(i) all center staff
					 whose job responsibilities include the use of restraint during a behavioral
					 emergency must be trained before assuming direct care responsibilities for a
					 minor;
(ii) all center staff must
					 receive training and demonstrate competency in the following areas:
(I) using any restraint techniques or
					 procedures that are expected or anticipated to be employed;
(II) identifying the underlying causes or
					 functions of threatening behaviors;
(III) understanding how the behavior of staff
					 members affects the behavior of minors;
(IV) using de-escalation, mediation,
					 self-protection, and other techniques, such as quiet time, to prevent or reduce
					 the use of restraint;
(V) applying
					 principles of trauma informed care; and
(VI) recognizing and responding to signs of
					 distress in a minor who is being restrained; and
(iii) all center staff must complete training
					 and demonstrate competence in the use of restraint in a behavioral emergency at
					 least every 12 months following initial training; and
(H) job-specific training is documented with
					 the following information:
(i) the name and
					 qualifications of the trainer;
(ii)
					 the training topics and length; and
(iii) a list of staff who completed the
					 training and demonstrated competence;
(9) a requirement to have a written job
					 description that is a statement of the functions and responsibilities, and job
					 qualifications, including the specific education and training requirements for
					 each position at the center;
(10)
					 procedures for searching the nurse aide registry and the employee misconduct
					 registry for staff in accordance with § 550.418 of this division (relating
					 to Criminal History Checks, Nurse Aid Registry (NAR) and Employee Misconduct
					 Registry (EMR) Requirements);
(11)
					 a requirement to have annual evaluation of employee and volunteer
					 performance;
(12) a description of
					 employee and volunteer disciplinary action and procedures;
(13) a policy regarding the use of volunteers
					 that is in compliance with § 550.414 of this division (relating to
					 Volunteers); and
(14) a requirement
					 that all staff providing services on behalf of a center sign a statement that
					 the staff have read, understand, and will comply with all applicable center
					 policies.