Qualifications for care staff

All of us in the “industry” understand the difficulty we face with finding the right team members to serve in our communities. The positions are tough, consuming (especially during the time of writing this article; see COVID-19), and can leave many burnt out. But it is also an incredibly rewarding experience for employees to share their compassion for others and provide care to seniors! Employees in an ALF must be held to high standards and have specific as defined by the Virginia DOSS in the following regulation:

22VAC40-73-200. Direct care staff qualifications.

  1. Direct care staff shall be at least 18 years of age unless certified in Virginia as a nurse aide.
  2. Direct care staff who are responsible for caring for residents with special health care needs shall only provide services within the scope of their practice and training.
  3. Direct care staff shall meet one of the requirements in this subsection. If the staff does not meet the requirement at the time of employment, he shall successfully meet one of the requirements in this subsection within two months of employment. Licensed health care professionals practicing within the scope of their profession are not required to complete the training in this subsection.
  4. Certification as a nurse aide issued by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
  5. Successful completion of a Virginia Board of Nursing-approved nurse aide education program.
  6. Successful completion of a nursing education program preparing for registered nurse licensure or practical nurse licensure.
  7. Current enrollment in a nursing education program preparing for registered nurse or practical nurse licensure and completion of at least one clinical course in the nursing program that includes at least 40 hours of direct client care clinical experience.
  8. Successful completion of a personal care aide training program approved by the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services.
  9. Successful completion of an educational program for a geriatric assistant or home health aide or for nurse aide that is not covered under subdivision 2 of this subsection. The program shall be provided by a hospital, nursing facility, or educational institution and may include out-of-state training. The program must be approved by the department. To obtain department approval:
  10. The facility shall provide to the department’s representative an outline of course content, dates and hours of instruction received, the name of the entity that provided the training, and other pertinent information.
  11. The department will make a determination based on the information in subdivision 6 of this subsection and provide written confirmation to the facility when the educational program meets department requirements.
  12. Successful completion of the department-approved 40-hour direct care staff training provided by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
  13. Direct care staff employed prior to February 1, 2018, who only cared for residents meeting the criteria for residential living care, and who were therefore not required to meet this subsection prior to February 1, 2018, shall successfully complete a training program consistent with this subsection no later than January 31, 2019.
  14. The facility shall obtain a copy of the certificate issued or other documentation indicating that the person has met one of the requirements of subsection C of this section, which shall be part of the staff member’s record in accordance with 22VAC40-73-250.
  15. The administrator shall develop and implement a written plan for supervision of direct care staff who have not yet met the requirements as allowed for in subsection C of this section.

Top Takeaway:

  • Direct care staff shall meet one of the requirements in this subsection. If the staff does not meet the requirement at the time of employment, he shall successfully meet one of the requirements in this subsection within two months of employment. Licensed health care professionals practicing within the scope of their profession are not required to complete the training in this subsection.

DOSS gives you multiple options for the staff you hire in terms of what type of training and/or licensure they hold. If they do not meet the requirements at the time of hire they have 60 days to become compliant.