Washington Administrative Code › Title 388 - Social and Health Services, Department of › AGING AND ADULT SERVICES › Chapter 388-71 - Home and community services and programs › ADULT DAY SERVICES › Section 388-71-0752 - What are the adult day centers' staffing qualifications and requirements?

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) Staff
				  selection is dependent on participant needs, program design, and contracting
				  requirements. The center must have the proper balance of professionals and
				  paraprofessionals or nonprofessionals to adequately meet the needs of
				  participants. Services must be delivered by those with adequate professional
				  training. A staff person can have multiple functions, such as an administrator
				  who is also responsible for providing nursing services or social
				  services.
(2) To ensure continuity
				  of direction and supervision, there must be a clear division of responsibility
				  between the governing body and the adult day center administrator.
(3) The administrator must be given full
				  authority and responsibility to plan, staff, direct, and implement the program.
				  The administrator must also have the responsibility for establishing
				  collaborative relations with other community organizations to ensure necessary
				  support services to participants and their families/caregivers.
(4) The administrator must be on site to
				  manage the center's day-to-day operations during hours of operation. If the
				  administrator is responsible for more than one site, or has duties not related
				  to adult day center administration or provision of services, a program director
				  must be designated for each additional site and must report to the
				  administrator.
(5) The
				  administrator must be responsible for the development of a written plan of
				  operation with approval of the governing body and the development,
				  coordination, supervision, fiscal control, and evaluation of services provided
				  through the adult day center.
(6) A
				  nurse or other personnel with a current first aid and CPR card must be on site
				  whenever participants are attending the adult day care or health
				  program.
(7) Required credentials
				  must be verified to ensure that they are current and in good standing for
				  licensed and certified staff.
(8)
				  Adult day centers may utilize a range of staff under contract or consulting
				  from a larger parent organization or from a private entity to provide
				  services.
(9) Staff commonly
				  utilized by both adult day care and adult day health centers must meet the
				  following requirements:
(a) An activity
				  coordinator must have a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy or a related
				  field and one year of experience (full-time equivalent) in social or health
				  services; or an associate degree in recreational therapy or a related field
				  plus two years of appropriate experience; or three years of paid experience in
				  an activity program and expertise with the population served at the
				  center.
(b) The nurse must be a
				  registered nurse (RN) with valid state credentials in good standing and have at
				  least one-year applicable experience (full-time equivalent) in ambulatory care
				  or hospital nursing or geriatric or preferably in home health or older adult
				  community based nursing and/or work with disabled clients. In addition to a
				  registered nurse, an adult day center can utilize a licensed practical nurse
				  (LPN), but the LPN must be supervised in compliance with all applicable nurse
				  practice acts and standards. The LPN must have valid state credentials in good
				  standing and at least one-year applicable experience (full-time equivalent) in
				  ambulatory care of hospital nursing or geriatric or preferably in home health
				  or older adult community based nursing and/or work with disabled clients. In
				  the adult day care center the RN/ LPN does not need to be on site during all
				  hours of operation. In the adult day health center the RN and/or LPN must be on
				  site when the attending participants' who need nursing services are attending
				  the ADH program. If there are no participants who have nursing service
				  interventions identified on their negotiated care plan in attendance then the
				  nurse is not required to be on site during the ADH program time.
(c) The social services professional must
				  have a master's degree in social work, gerontology, or other human services
				  field, or counseling and at least one year of professional work experience
				  (full-time equivalent), or a bachelor's degree in social work, counseling, or a
				  related field and two years of experience in a human services field.
(d) Program assistant/aides or personal care
				  aides must have the appropriate knowledge, skills and training to meet the
				  individual needs of the participants before they are allowed to provide care
				  and services. The assistant/aide competencies must be documented demonstrating
				  their qualification to meet the needs of the center's participants within their
				  job description.
(e) Consultants
				  from a larger parent organization without formal contracts may be utilized
				  whenever the center is part of a larger organization that has the ability to
				  provide professional services within the larger framework.
(f) Consultants, with appropriate, valid
				  state credentials may be utilized as needed to meet the requirements outlined
				  in this chapter. The rehabilitative consultants must perform the professional
				  assessment of the participant, train the staff regarding the participants
				  therapy needs and therapeutic intervention/s, monitor the rehabilitation
				  program and evaluate the participants progress for discharge
				  planning.
(g) Secretary/bookkeepers
				  must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent and skills and training
				  to carry out the duties of the position.
(h) If the adult day center provides
				  transportation drivers must have a valid and appropriate state driver's
				  license, a safe driving record, and training in first aid and CPR. The driver
				  must meet all state requirements for licensure or certification.
(i) Volunteers may be individuals or groups
				  who desire to work with adult day center clients and must take part in program
				  orientation and training. Volunteers and staff must mutually determine the
				  duties of volunteers. Duties to be performed under the supervision of a staff
				  member must either supplement staff in established activities or provide
				  additional services for which the volunteer has special talents. Volunteers
				  will be included in the staff ratio only when they conform to the same
				  standards and requirements as paid staff, meet the job qualification standards
				  of the organization, and have designated responsibilities.
(j) Dietitians must be certified with valid
				  state credentials and have a minimum of one year applicable experience
				  (full-time equivalent).