The state of Virginia Department of Social Services allows for an administrator to serve up to four separate communities bearing they serve no more than a total of 40 residents. This allows for flexibility for smaller communities that do not always need an administrator on site. While the administrator is not present a manager must be assigned and in control of the facility. For more information see the following regulation provided by Virginia DOSS:
22VAC40-73-170. Shared administrator for smaller facilities.
- An administrator of a facility licensed only for residential living care, who is not licensed as an assisted living facility administrator or nursing home administrator by the Virginia Board of Long-Term Care Administrators, is allowed to be present at a facility for fewer than the required minimum 40 hours per week in order to serve multiple facilities, without a designated assistant, under the following conditions:
- The administrator shall serve no more than four facilities.
- The combined total licensed capacity of the facilities served by the administrator shall be 40 or fewer residents.
- The administrator shall be awake and on duty on the premises of each facility served for at least 10 hours a week, six of which must be during the day shift.
- The administrator shall serve as a full-time administrator (i.e., shall be awake and on duty on the premises of all facilities served for a combined total of at least 40 hours a week).
- Each of the facilities served shall be within a 30-minute average one-way travel time of the other facilities.
- When not present at a facility, the Administrator shall be on call to that facility during the hours he is working as an administrator and shall maintain such accessibility through suitable communication devices.
- A designated assistant may act in place of the administrator during the required minimum of 40 hours only if the administrator is ill or on vacation and for a period of time that shall not exceed four consecutive weeks. The designated assistant shall meet the qualifications of the administrator.
- Each of the facilities served shall have a manager, designated and supervised by the administrator. The manager shall be awake and on duty on the premises of the facility for the remaining part of the 40 required hours per week when the administrator or designated assistant is not present at the facility. The manager shall meet the following qualifications and requirements:
- The manager shall be at least 21 years of age.
- The manager shall be able to read and write and understand this chapter.
- The manager shall be able to perform the duties and to carry out the responsibilities of his position.
- The manager shall:
(1) Be a high school graduate or have a General Education Development (GED) Certificate;
(2) (i) Have successfully completed at least 30 credit hours of postsecondary education from a college or university accredited by an association recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and at least 15 of the 30 credit hours shall be in business or human services or a combination thereof; (ii) have successfully completed a course of study of 40 or more hours approved by the department that is specific to the management of an assisted living facility; (iii) have a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by an association recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education; or (iv) be a licensed nurse; and
(3) Have at least one year of administrative or supervisory experience in caring for adults in a residential group care facility.
- Subdivision 8 d of this subsection does not apply to a manager of an assisted living facility employed prior to February 1, 2018, who met the requirements in effect when employed and who has been continuously employed as an assisted living facility manager.
- The manager shall not be a resident of the facility.
- The manager shall complete the training specified in 22VAC40-73-40 C within two months of employment as manager. The training may be counted toward the annual training requirement for the first year. EXCEPTION: A manager employed prior to December 28, 2006, who met the requirements in effect when employed and who has been continuously employed as a manager. h. The manager shall attend at least 20 hours of training related to management or operation of a residential facility for adults or relevant to the population in care within each 12-month period. When adults with mental impairments reside in the facility, at least six of the required 20 hours of training shall focus on topics related to residents’ mental impairments and at least two of the required 20 hours on infection control and prevention. Documentation of attendance shall be retained at the facility and shall include the title of course, name of the entity that provided the training, and date and number of hours of training.
- There shall be a written management plan for each facility that describes how the administrator will oversee the care and supervision of the residents and the day-to-day operation of the facility.
- The minimum of 40 hours per week required for the administrator or manager to be awake and on duty on the premises of a facility shall include at least 24 hours during the day shift on weekdays.
- An administrator, who is licensed as an assisted living facility administrator or nursing home administrator by the Virginia Board of Long-Term Care Administrators, may be responsible for the day-to-day administration and management of multiple facilities under the following conditions:
- The administrator shall serve no more than four facilities.
- The combined total licensed capacity of the facilities served by the administrator shall be 40 or fewer residents.
- The administrator shall serve on a full-time basis as the on-site agent of the licensee or licensees, proportioning his time among all the facilities served in order to ensure that he provides sufficient administrative and management functions to each facility.
- Each of the facilities served shall be within a 30-minute average one-way travel time of the other facilities.
- When not present at a facility, the Administrator shall be on call to that facility during the hours he is working as an administrator and shall maintain such accessibility through suitable communication devices.
- Each of the facilities served shall have a manager, designated and supervised by the administrator, to assist the administrator in overseeing the care and supervision of the residents and the day-to-day operation of the facility. The majority of the time, the administrator and the manager shall be present at a facility at different times to ensure appropriate oversight of the facility. The manager shall meet the qualifications and requirements specified in subdivision A 8 of this section.
EXCEPTION: In regard to subdivision A 8 of this section, the reference to 40 hours is not relevant to a facility to which this subsection applies (i.e., a facility with a licensed administrator).
- There shall be a written management plan for each facility that includes written policies and procedures that describe how the administrator shall oversee the care and supervision of the residents and the day-to-day operation of the facility.
- This section shall not apply to an administrator who serves both an assisted living facility and a nursing home as provided for in 22VAC40-73-180.
Top Takeaways:
- When not present at a facility, the Administrator shall be on call to that facility during the hours he is working as an administrator and shall maintain such accessibility through suitable communication devices.
It goes without saying that the administrator should be available at all times for their employees to reach them. While you may designate a manager on-site you need to be available in case of a need that is higher than they can accommodate.
- Each of the facilities served shall have a manager, designated and supervised by the administrator. The manager shall be awake and on duty on the premises of the facility for the remaining part of the 40 required hours per week when the administrator or designated assistant is not present at the facility.
The facility will need a designated manager in the absence of the administrator. This manager should be capable of preforming duties that the administrator delegates to them and handle any issues that arise while in charge.