One of the most important elements of running a successful Assisted Living Facility is hiring, training, and retaining the right people to care for your residents. The Virginia DOSS has issued specific guidelines for what these employees must be given training on in order to provide care for residents. Take a look below:
4.5. Employee Orientation and Training.
4.5.1. The licensee shall provide and maintain a record of training to new employees prior to scheduling them to work unsupervised, and no later than within the first 15 days of employment, in accordance with a written plan that includes, at a minimum, emergency procedures and disaster plans; the residence’s policies and procedures; resident rights; confidentiality; abuse prevention and reporting requirements; the ombudsmen’s role; complaint procedures; specialty care based on individualized resident needs and service plans; the provision of group and individual resident activities; and infection control. (Class II)
4.5.2. The licensee shall provide and maintain a record of in-service training annually to all staff on the topics of resident rights, confidentiality, abuse prevention and reporting requirements, the provision of resident activities, infection control, fire safety and evacuation plans, and specialty care based on individual resident needs and service plans. (Class II)
4.5.3. The licensee shall provide training to all new employees within 15 days of employment and annually thereafter on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The licensee shall maintain an employee training record. The training shall be a minimum of two hours in duration and shall include all the following: basic understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias; communication approaches and techniques for use when interacting with persons with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia; prevention and management of problem behaviors; and activities and programming appropriate for these individuals. (Class II)
Top Takeaways:
- 5.1. The licensee shall provide and maintain a record of training to new employees prior to scheduling them to work unsupervised, and no later than within the first 15 days of employment, in accordance with a written plan that includes, at a minimum, emergency procedures and disaster plans; the residence’s policies and procedures; resident rights; confidentiality; abuse prevention and reporting requirements; the ombudsmen’s role; complaint procedures; specialty care based on individualized resident needs and service plans; the provision of group and individual resident activities; and infection control. (Class II)
It is uber important to have the orientation process completed on the employees first day. I get it, you are short staffed and need the bodies on the floor. But chances are that you will not retain this employee and they will not be satisfied if you do not orient and train them properly. Plus, there’s the pesky little agency known as OHFLAC who will ensure you have completed the orientation process within 15 days of their employment beginning.