Virginia Administrative Code › Title 12 - HEALTH › Agency 35 - DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES › Chapter 105 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR LICENSING PROVIDERS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES › Part VIII - Crisis Services › Section 12VAC35-105-1930 - Physical environment for crisis services

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. The physical
				  environment, design, structure, furnishings, and lighting shall be appropriate
				  to the individuals receiving services and the services provided.
B. The physical environment shall be
				  accessible to individuals with physical and sensory disabilities.
C. The physical environment and furnishings
				  shall be clean, dry, free of foul odors, safe, and well-maintained.
D. Floor surfaces and floor coverings shall
				  promote mobility in areas used by individuals and shall promote maintenance of
				  sanitary conditions. There shall be clear pathways through the setting, free of
				  tripping hazards, to ensure that all individuals can move about the setting
				  safely.
Any electrical cords, extension cords, or power strips
					 utilized by the provider shall be properly secured and shall not be placed
					 anywhere that the cord or strip can cause trips or falls.
E. Heat shall be evenly distributed in all
				  rooms occupied by individuals such that a temperature no less than 68°F is
				  maintained, unless otherwise mandated by state or federal authorities. Natural
				  or mechanical ventilation to the outside shall be provided in all rooms used by
				  residents. Individual or mechanical ventilating systems shall be provided in
				  all rooms occupied by individuals when the temperature in those rooms exceeds
				  80°F.
F. Plumbing shall be
				  maintained in good operational condition. Adequate hot and cold running water
				  of a safe and appropriate temperature shall be available. Hot water accessible
				  to individuals receiving services shall be maintained within a range of
				  100° to 120°F. Precautions shall be taken to prevent scalding from
				  running water.
G. Adequate
				  provision shall be made for the collection and legal disposal of garbage and
				  waste materials.
H. The physical
				  environment, structure, furnishings, and lighting shall be kept free of vermin,
				  rodents, insects, and other pests.
I. If smoking is permitted, the provider
				  shall make provisions for alternate smoking areas that are separate from the
				  service environment.
J. For all
				  program areas added after September 19, 2002, minimum room height shall be
				  7-1/2 feet.
K. Bedroom, bathroom,
				  and dressing area windows and doors shall provide privacy.
L. Bathrooms intended for use by more than
				  one individual at the same time shall provide privacy for showers and
				  toilets.
M. The right of privacy
				  within bathrooms includes the right to be free of cameras or audio monitors
				  within the bathroom or angled toward a bathroom.
N. Bedrooms and bathrooms shall be free of
				  all protrusions, sharp corners, hardware, fixtures, or other devices that may
				  cause injury to the individual. Windows in the bathrooms shall be so
				  constructed as to minimize breakage and otherwise prevent the individual from
				  self-harming.
O. No required path
				  of travel to the bathroom shall be through another bedroom. Each individual's
				  room shall have direct access to a corridor, living area, dining area, or other
				  common area.
P. Each provider shall
				  make available at least one toilet, one hand basin, and a shower or bath for
				  every four individuals. Providers of children's residential services shall:
1. Make available at least one toilet, one
				  hand basin, and one shower or bathtub in each living unit;
2. Make available at least one bathroom
				  equipped with a bathtub in each facility;
3. Make available at least one toilet, one
				  hand basin, and one shower or bathtub for every eight individuals for
				  facilities licensed before July 1, 1981;
4. Make available one toilet, one hand basin,
				  and one shower or bathtub for every four individuals in any building
				  constructed or structurally modified after July 1, 1981. Facilities licensed
				  after December 28, 2007, shall comply with the one-to-four ratio; and
5. The maximum number of staff members on
				  duty in the living unit shall be counted in determining the required number of
				  toilets and hand basins when a separate bathroom is not provided for
				  staff.