Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 6, September 16, 2024
(a)
General Requirements
(1) The owner of adult
day care homes initially certified after January 1, 2003, or homes that make
structural modifications to the home after this date, shall reside in the
home.
(2) Staff positions shall be
planned and filled to develop and direct the activities of the goals that meet
the requirements of Rule.0302 in this Section.
(3) There shall be a Statewide criminal
history records search of all newly-hired employees of adult day care programs
for the past five years conducted by an agency contracted with the North
Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts.
(4) There shall be a written job description
for each position, full-time or part-time. Each job description shall specify
qualifications of education and experience; to whom the employee reports; and
duties.
(5) References, including
employment verification from former employers, shall be required in recruitment
of staff.
(6) There shall be an
established review process discussing employment performance for each employee
at least annually and following any probationary period. The review process
must be approved by the governing body.
(7) There shall be a written plan for
orientation and staff development of new employees and volunteers and ongoing
development and training of all staff. Documentation from the orientation,
staff development and training shall be recorded, including
attendance.
(8) There shall be a
written plan for staff substitutions in case of absences. The plan shall
include the coverage of responsibilities in each job description as well as
maintenance of staff-participant ratio as required in Paragraph (c) of this
Rule. Substitute staff shall have the same qualifications and training as those
required by the position and in this Subchapter. Substitutes are not required
to have current certified CPR and First Aid training as long as other staff are
present with this training at all times. Trained volunteers may be used instead
of paid substitutes.
(9) Prior to
beginning employment, each new employee shall present a written medical
statement, completed within the prior 12 months by a physician, nurse
practitioner or physician's assistant, certifying that the employee has no
illness or health condition that would pose a health risk to others and that
the employee can perform the duties assigned in the job.
(b) Personnel Policies
(1) Each adult day care program shall
establish written personnel policies and provide a copy to each employee.
Personnel policies shall address:
(A) annual
leave;
(B) training;
(C) pay practices;
(D) employee benefits;
(E) grievance procedures;
(F) performance and evaluation
procedures;
(G) criteria for
advancement;
(H) discharge
procedures;
(I) hiring and firing
responsibility;
(J) use of any
probationary period;
(K) staff
participation in reviews of personnel practices;
(L) maternity leave;
(M) military leave;
(N) civil leave (jury duty and court
attendance); and
(O) protection of
confidential information.
(2) All policies developed shall conform to
the United States Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act.
(c) Staffing Pattern. The staffing
pattern shall be dependent upon the enrollment criteria and the particular
needs of the participants who are to be served. The ratio of staff to
participants shall meet the goals and objectives of the program. Whenever
regularly scheduled staff are absent, substitutes shall be used to maintain the
staff-participant ratio. The minimum ratios shall be as follows:
(1) Adult Day Care Homes
One full-time equivalent staff person with responsibility
for direct participant care for each 6 participants, up to 16 participants
total.
(2) Adult Day Care
Centers
One full-time equivalent staff person with responsibility
for direct participant care for each eight participants.
(d) Program Director
(1) The program director shall have the
authority and responsibility for the management of activities and direction of
staff to ensure that activities and services are provided in accordance with
its program policies.
(2) The
program director shall:
(A) be at least 18
years of age;
(B) have completed a
minimum of two years of post secondary education from an institution accredited
by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of
Education (including colleges, universities, technical institutes, and
correspondence schools) or have a high school diploma or the equivalent and a
combination of a minimum of five years experience and training in services to
elderly or adults with disabilities;
(C) have at least two years of work
experience in supervision and administration;
(D) present prior to employment, a written
medical statement, completed within the prior 12 months by a physician, nurse
practitioner, or physician's assistant, certifying that the program director
has no illness or health condition that would pose a risk to others and that
the program director can perform the duties assigned on the job; and
(E) provide at least three reference letters
or the names of individuals who can be contacted, one of which shall include
previous employment verification. The individuals providing reference
information shall have knowledge of the applicant program director's background
and qualifications.
(3)
In employing a program director, the governing body, agency or owner shall hire
applicants that exhibit these characteristics:
(A) ability to make decisions and set
goals;
(B) knowledge and
understanding of the needs of the aging and disabled;
(C) ability to design and implement a program
of group and individual activities that meets the changing physical and
cognitive needs of participants; and
(D) managerial and administrative skills,
including the ability to supervise staff and to plan and coordinate staff
training.
(4) The adult
day care program shall have an on-site program director or substitute program
director meeting the requirements as specified in this Rule during the
program's operational hours. The program director shall assign authority and
responsibility for the management of activities and direction of staff when the
program director is not on site.
Authority
G.S.
131D-6;
143B-153(2a);
143B-153(6);
Eff. July 1, 1978;
Amended Eff. September 1, 2007; July 1, 2007;
May 1, 1992; July 1, 1990; July 1, 1984; January 1, 1981;
Readopted
Eff. September 1, 2019.