Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 111 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
Chapter 111-8 - HEALTHCARE FACILITY REGULATION
Subject 111-8-62 - PERSONAL CARE HOMES
Rule 111-8-62-.09 - Workforce Qualifications and Training

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 111-8-62-.09

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024

(1) Age Requirements. The on-site manager and all other direct-care supervisory staff working in a personal care home must be at least 21 years of age. Non-supervisory staff providing hands-on care to the residents must be at least 18 years of age.

(2) The administrator or on-site manager must be responsible for ensuring that any person working in the home as an employee, under contract or otherwise, receives work-related training within the first sixty days of employment. Such training must include, at a minimum, the following:

(a) Evidence of current certification in emergency first aid except where the staff person is a currently licensed health care professional;

(b) Evidence of current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation where the training course required return demonstration of competency;

(c) Emergency evacuation procedures;

(d) Medical and social needs and characteristics of the resident population;

(e) Residents' rights;

(f) Identification of conduct constituting abuse, neglect or exploitation of a resident and reporting requirements to include the employee's receipt of a copy of the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Abuse Reporting Act as outlined in O.C.G.A. § 31-8-81 et seq.; and

(g) General infection control principles including the importance of hand hygiene in all settings and attendance policies when ill.

(3) At least one staff person having completed the minimum training requirements of Rule 111-8-62-.09(2)(a) through (g) above must be present in the home at all times resident(s) are present in the home.

(4) All direct care staff, including the administrator or on-site manager, must satisfactorily complete continuing education each year, in courses, relevant to their job duties, including, but not limited to, appropriate medication assistance, working with the elderly, working with residents with Alzheimer's or other cognitive impairments, working with the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, social and recreational activities, legal issues, physical maintenance and fire safety, housekeeping, or other topics as needed or as determined by the Department.

(5) All direct care staff, including the administrator or on-site manager, must have at least sixteen (16) hours of training per year.

(6) The administrator, on-site manager, and each employee must have received a tuberculosis screening and a physical examination by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant within twelve months prior to their employment with the home which examination was sufficiently comprehensive to assure that the employee is free of diseases communicable within the scope of employment and physically qualified to work. Follow-up examinations must be conducted by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant of each administrator or staff person to determine readiness to return to work following a significant illness or injury. Copies of information regarding staff member health must be kept in the staff person's file accessible at the licensed home or within one hour of the request.

(7) Criminal History Background Checks for Owners Required. Prior to the issuance of any new license, the owner of the business or agency applying for the license must comply with the requirements of the Rules and Regulations for Criminal Background Checks, Chapter 111-8-12.

(8) Criminal History Background Checks for Directors, Administrators and Onsite Managers Required. The home must obtain a satisfactory fingerprint records check determination for the person being considered for employment as a director, administrator or onsite manager. The records check determination must be done in compliance with the Rules and Regulations for Criminal Background Checks, Chapter 111-8-12.

(9) Criminal History Background Checks for Direct Access Employees Required. Prior to serving as a direct access employee, the home must obtain a satisfactory fingerprint records check determination for the person to be hired in compliance with the Rules and Regulations for Criminal Background Checks, Chapter 111-8-12.

(10) The administrator or on-site manager must obtain and verify a five year employment history when possible for each employee and maintain documentation in the employee's file. If the potential employee has no prior employment history, then the home must retain documentation of a satisfactory personal reference check.

(11) Personnel file(s) for each employee must be maintained either in the home or available for inspection by departmental staff within one hour of request or prior to the end of the on-site survey and for three years following the employee's departure or discharge. These files must include all of the following:

(a) Evidence of a satisfactory fingerprint record check determination, if applicable.

(b) Report of a physical examination completed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

(c) Evidence of trainings, skills competency determinations and recertifications as required by these rules and, if applicable, the Rules for Proxy Caregivers, Chapter 111-8-100.

(d) Employment history, if previously employed, including places of work, employers and telephone contacts with previous employers.

(e) Supporting documentation reflecting that the employee has the basic qualifications as represented, e.g. personal references, documentation of good standing by nursing board, no findings of abuse, neglect or exploitation entered against the individual in the nurse aide registry, satisfactory report of motor vehicle driving record where the employee may be transporting residents.

(f) Written evidence of satisfactory initial and annual work performance reviews, which can take the form of skills competency checklists, for unlicensed staff providing hands-on personal care. Where the unlicensed staff performs specialized tasks, such as health maintenance activities, such performance reviews must include the satisfactory completion of skills competency checklists as specified in applicable rules. Such reviews must be conducted by staff or contractors qualified by education, training and experience to assess that the assigned duties are being performed in accordance with applicable rules and accepted health and safety standards.

(12) Where the home permits a resident to hire his or her own companion-sitter, proxy caregiver to perform health maintenance activities or aide of any sort, the home must require assurance that the companion-sitter, proxy caregiver or aide so hired is familiar with emergency evacuation routes and has documentation reflecting compliance with the provisions of the Rules for Proxy Caregivers, Chapter 111-8-100, as applicable.

O.C.G.A. §§ 31-2-7, 31-2-9, 31-7-2.1, 31-7-12, 31-7-350.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Georgia 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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