Verifying employee credentials

Perhaps one of the most common deficiencies seen during the survey of an Assisted Living facility is the failure to properly document the paperwork required to be employed in the facility. Check out the regulation below, provided by Maine DLRS for how to ensure your employment verification will satisfy the requirements of the state:

Verification of Credentials
8.1 Licensed Staff. Prior to employing licensed staff, the assisted living program must verify that the person has a valid and current license.
8.2 Employing CNA’s and CNA-M’s. Prior to employing a CNA or CNA-M (in the capacity of a CNA or CNA-M), the assisted living program must contact the CNA Registry and determine that the CNA or CNAM is on the Registry and has not been annotated. If the CNA or CNA-M is not on the Registry, or if the
CNA or CNA-M has been annotated for abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of patient/client/consumer funds in a health care setting, or if the CNA or CNA-M has been the subject of a substantiated complaint involving abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of patient/client/resident funds in a health care setting by the
Department, the individual cannot be employed to function as a CNA or CNA-M.
8.3 Prohibited Employment. The facility may not hire unlicensed assistive personnel as defined in section
2.53 an individual who is prohibited from employment as a certified nursing assistant as outlined below and in section 8.4:
8.3.1 An individual may not be employed in a hospital, nursing facility, home health agency or assisted housing program as a certified nursing assistant if that individual has been convicted in a court of law of a crime involving abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property in a
health care setting; and
8.3.2 An individual may not be employed in a hospital, nursing facility, home health agency or assisted housing program as a certified nursing assistant if that individual:
8.3.2.1 Has been the subject of a complaint involving abuse or neglect that was substantiated by the department pursuant to its responsibility to license hospitals, nursing facilities, home health agencies, and assisted housing programs and that was entered on the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants; or
8.3.2.2 Has been the subject of a complaint involving the misappropriation of property in a health care setting that was substantiated by the department and entered on the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants.
8.4 Time Limit on Consideration of Prior Criminal Conviction: Except as otherwise provided in this
section, an individual may not be employed in a hospital, nursing facility, home health agency or assisted
housing program as a certified nursing assistant if that individual has a prior criminal conviction within the
last 10 years of:
8.4.1 A crime for which incarceration of 3 years or more may be imposed under the laws of the state in which the conviction occurred
8.4.2 A crime for which incarceration of fewer than 3 years may be imposed under the laws of the state
in which the conviction occurred involving sexual misconduct or involving abuse, neglect or
exploitation in a setting other than a health care setting.
8.5 Exception: The restrictions on employment under sections 8.3.1 and 8.3.2 do not apply to an individual
listed and active on the Maine Registry of Certified Nursing Assistants prior to the effective date of Title 22
M.R.S.A. §1812G(8) as long as the individual meets other state and federal requirements for certified
nursing assistants and continues to maintain an active status by timely re-registration as required by the rules.
8.6 Notification: A nursing assistant training program must notify applicants to that program of the
restrictions under 8.3.1 and 8.3.2 prior to the acceptance of any applicant