Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 3 - Licensing and Certification
Chapter 56 - Behavioral Health Service Providers
Subchapter E - Personnel
Section I-5641 - General Requirements

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code I-5641

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. The BHS provider shall maintain an organized professional staff who is accountable to the governing body for the overall responsibility of:

1. the quality of all clinical care provided to clients;

2. the ethical conduct and professional practices of its members;

3. compliance with policies and procedures; and

4. the documented staff organization that pertains to the providers setting and location.

B. The direct care staff of a BHS provider shall:

1. have the qualifying experience to provide the services required by its clients treatment plans; and

2. not practice beyond the scope of his/her license, certification and/or training.

C. The provider shall ensure that:

1. Qualified direct care staff members are present with the clients as necessary to ensure the health, safety and well-being of clients;

2. Staff coverage is maintained in consideration of:
a. acuity of the clients being serviced;

b. the time of day;

c. the size, location, physical environment and nature of the provider;

d. the ages and needs of the clients;

e. ensuring the continual safety, protection, direct care and supervision of clients;

3. applicable staffing requirements in this Chapter are maintained;

4. mechanisms are developed for tracking staff attendance and hours worked during operational hours whether onsite or off-site;

5. there is adequate justification for the providers assigned staffing patterns at any point in time.

D. Criminal Background Checks

1. For any provider that is treating children and/or adolescents, the provider shall either:
a. obtain a statewide criminal background check by an agency authorized by the Office of State Police to conduct criminal background checks on all staff that was conducted within 90 days prior to hire or employment; or

b. request a criminal background check on all staff prior to hire or employment in the manner required by R.S. 15:587.1 et seq.

2. For any provider that is treating adults, prior to any employer making an offer to employ or contract with a n-licensed person or any licensed person, the provider shall obtain a statewide criminal background check in accordance with R.S. 40:1203.1 et seq. At the latest, the background check shall be conducted within 90 days prior to hire or employment.

3. A provider that hires a contractor to perform work which does not involve any contact with clients is not required to conduct a criminal background check on the contractor if accompanied at all times by a staff person when clients are present in the provider.

E. Prior to hiring the unlicensed direct care staff member, and once employed, at least every six months thereafter or more often, the provider shall review the Louisiana state nurse aide registry and the Louisiana direct service worker registry to ensure that each unlicensed direct care staff member does not have a negative finding on either registry.

F. Prohibitions

1. The provider is prohibited from knowingly employing or contracting with, or retaining the employment of or contract with, a member of the direct care staff who:
a. has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, no contest, or has been convicted of a felony listed in R.S. 40:1203.3, unless the individual meets one of the exceptions allowed by the statute; or
i. - v. Repealed.

b. has a finding placed on the Louisiana state nurse aide registry or the Louisiana direct service worker registry.

G. Orientation and Training

1. All staff shall receive orientation. All direct care staff shall receive orientation prior to providing direct client care without supervision.

2. All staff shall receive in-service training:
a. at least once a year;

b. that complies with the providers policies and procedures;

c. that is necessary depending on the needs of the clients; and

d. that is specific to the age of the providers population.

3. The content of the orientation and in-service training shall include the following:
a. confidentiality in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations;

b. grievance process;

c. fire and disaster plans;

d. emergency medical procedures;

e. organizational structure and reporting relationships;

f. program philosophy;

g. policies and procedures;

h. detecting and mandatory reporting of client abuse, neglect or misappropriation;

i. detecting signs of illness or dysfunction that warrant medical or nursing intervention;

j. basic skills required to meet the health needs and challenges of the client;

k. crisis intervention and the use of nonphysical intervention skills, such as de-escalation, mediation conflict resolution, active listening and verbal and observational methods to prevent emergency safety situations;

l. telephone crisis mitigation for those staff members who provide such services;

m. clients rights;

n. duties and responsibilities of each employee;

o. standards of conduct required by the provider;

p. information on the disease process and expected behaviors of clients;

q. maintaining a clean, healthy and safe environment;

r. infectious diseases and universal precautions; and

s. basic emergency care for accidents and emergencies until emergency medical personnel can arrive at provider.

4. The orientation and in-service training shall:
a. be provided only by staff who are qualified by education, training, and qualifying experience; and

b. includes documentation of demonstrated competency of direct care staff, ongoing and prior to providing services to clients.

5. The in-service trainings shall serve as a refresher for subjects covered in orientation or training as indicated through the QI process.

I. The provider shall document an annual staff performance evaluation of all employees.

J. The provider shall report violations of laws, rules, and professional and ethical codes of conduct by provider staff and volunteers to the appropriate professional board or licensing authority.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and R.S. 40:2151-2161.

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