Code of Colorado Regulations
2500 - Department of Human Services
2518 - Adult Protective Services
12 CCR 2518-1 - ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Section 12 CCR 2518-1-30.330 - TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Universal Citation: 12 CO Code Regs 2518-1, ยง 30.330

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, March 10, 2024

A. The county department shall ensure that all APS staff complete required APS training as outlined in Section 30.330.

B. APS caseworkers, lead caseworkers, and supervisors whose job titles are identified in Section 30.310.A and B must meet the required initial certification requirements and recertification requirements each fiscal year thereafter in order to perform the duties of an APS caseworker or supervisor.

C. Certification for new caseworkers and supervisors includes successful completion of the pre-academy workbook (PAW), CAPS training, and Training Academy, as outlined below.

1. The PAW shall be completed within one (1) month of hire or transfer to the APS program.
a. The PAW must be completed at least two business days prior to attending CAPS training; and,

b. The PAW must be completed at least five business days prior to attending Training Academy.

2. CAPS training must be completed prior to receiving access to CAPS and must be completed before beginning any APS casework, as outlined in Section 30.330.C.3 , and in no situation later than six months following hire or transfer to the APS program.

3. Caseworkers and supervisors who have completed the PAW and CAPS training may begin working in the APS program. They shall obtain consultative support until fully certified on all reports and cases from a certified county APS supervisor or lead worker or from the State Department. This consultative support must continue until full certification is obtained through the completion of Training Academy.

4. Training academy must be completed within six (6) months of hire or transfer to the APS program.

5. If an APS caseworker or supervisor does not complete certification requirements by the certification due date, as outlined above, CAPS access shall be revoked and they will not be able to continue to perform APS casework or supervisory duties until new worker certification is completed.
i. the staff person must complete certification for new workers during the next available Training Academy and/or CAPS training session.

ii. If certification is obtained after the certification due date, recertification hours may also be required, as outlined in Section 30.330.E.

6. If a newly hired APS caseworker or supervisor has held certification as an APS caseworker or supervisor in the state of Colorado in the previous four (4) years and has successfully completed basic investigation training, completion of the certification process is not required. Caseworkers and supervisors who are transferring from one county APS program to another in the same fiscal year must continue to meet their continuing education hours for recertification, as outlined in Section 30.330.F.

D. All case aides and screeners shall complete the pre-academy workbook (PAW) and CAPS training within one (1) month of hire or transfer to the APS program and shall not be provided CAPS training until the PAW has been completed.

1. The PAW must be completed at least two business days prior to CAPS training.

2. Case aides and screeners may attend APS training academy, space permitting.

3. The certification due date is used to determine when the staff person's recertification requirement begins. If certification was obtained after the certification due date, recertification hours may also be required, as outlined in Section 30.330.E.

E. Other State-Department approved county department staff with a business need for view-only access to CAPS shall complete the PAW at least two business days prior to CAPS training.

F. The county department shall ensure that all APS staff members fulfill recertification requirements each fiscal year.

1. Recertification requirements begin the first state fiscal year after the earlier of the certification completed date or the certification due date, as outlined in Sections 30.100 and 30.330.C and D.

2. County department APS staff shall complete continuing education hours by June 30 each state fiscal year.
a. Unless mandated by the State Department, attendance at any specific training event is at the supervisor's discretion.

b. APS staff who have a break in service during a fiscal year, for example for extended medical leave or a transition from one county APS program to another, shall complete recertification hours on a prorated basis for that fiscal year, as follows:
i. Up to 25% time in service must complete 25% of required recertification hours.

ii. Up to 50% time in service must complete 50% of required recertification hours.

iii. Up to 75% time in service must complete 75% of required recertification hours.

iv. Up to 100% time in service must complete 100% of required recertification hours.

3. If the APS staff person does not complete new worker certification by the certification due date and completes the certification in the following state fiscal year, the staff person shall complete recertification requirements as well as the new worker certification that fiscal year. An exception to the recertification hours requirement may be approved by the State Department for good cause.

4. Continuing education hours for recertification must be related to APS casework and client populations, including, but not limited to:
a. Client populations, such as behavioral health, cognition, brain injury, disabilities, etc.

b. Provision of casework services, such as best practices, Medicaid and other public benefits training, community resources, etc.

c. Interview, investigation, and client assessment skills.

d. Legal topics and issues, such as guardianship, end of life decision-making, etc.

e. Mistreatment related, such as identifying signs of mistreatment, understanding medical reports, sexual assault training, etc.

f. Worker safety, resiliency, and self-care.

g. Supervisors may obtain training on leadership and supervision for up to fifty percent (50%) of required hours. Lead workers who are performing supervisory duties may obtain leadership and supervision training for up to twenty-five percent (25%) of required hours.

5. At least half of all required continuing education hours must be acquired through state-provided training opportunities. Non-state provided training hours may be used for up to half of all required continuing education hours and may include:
a. National APS organizations' webinar training;

b. Child welfare training academy coursework that has cross-over relevance and has been approved by the State Department APS unit;

c. Other state or national APS conferences;

d. Training conducted by agencies or professionals that work with older adults or people with disabilities such as a Community Centered Board, Alzheimer's Association, Colorado Coalition for Elder Rights and Abuse Prevention (CCERAP).

e. Reading professional journals or watching educational videos about current APS best practices, research, and interventions.

5. The number of hours required for recertification each fiscal year is based on the person's position and the percentage of time the person works in the APS program, as designated in CAPS, as follows:
a. Supervisors, lead caseworkers, and caseworkers:
i. Up to twenty-five percent (25%) APS FTE shall complete at least ten (10) hours.

ii. Up to fifty percent (50%) APS FTE shall complete at least twenty (20) hours.

iii. Up to seventy-five percent (75%) APS FTE shall complete thirty (30) hours.

iv. Up to one hundred percent (100%) APS FTE shall complete forty (40) hours.

b. Case Aides:
i. Up to twenty-five percent (25%) APS FTE shall complete at least five (5) hours.

ii. Up to fifty percent (50%) APS FTE shall complete at least ten (10) hours.

iii. Up to seventy-five percent (75%) APS FTE shall complete fifteen (15) hours.

iv. Up to one hundred percent (100%) APS FTE shall complete twenty (20) hours.

G. All training hours shall be documented in CAPS within fourteen (14) calendar days of the end of each fiscal year.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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