§ 2600.65. Direct care staff person training and orientation.
(a) Prior to or during the first work day, all direct care staff persons including ancillary staff persons, substitute personnel and volunteers shall have an orientation in general fire safety and emergency preparedness that includes the following:
(1) Evacuation procedures.
(2) Staff duties and responsibilities during fire drills, as well as during emergency evacuation, transportation and at an emergency location if applicable.
(3) The designated meeting place outside the building or within the fire-safe area in the event of an actual fire.
(4) Smoking safety procedures, the home’s smoking policy and location of smoking areas, if applicable.
(5) The location and use of fire extinguishers.
(6) Smoke detectors and fire alarms.
(7) Telephone use and notification of emergency services.
(b) Within 40 scheduled working hours, direct care staff persons, ancillary staff persons, substitute personnel and volunteers shall have an orientation that includes the following:
(1) Resident rights.
(2) Emergency medical plan.
(3) Mandatory reporting of abuse and neglect under the Older Adult Protective Services Act (35 P.S. § § 10225.101—10225.5102).
(4) Reporting of reportable incidents and conditions.
(c) Ancillary staff persons shall have a general orientation to their specific job functions as it relates to their position prior to working in that capacity.
(d) Direct care staff persons hired after April 24, 2006, may not provide unsupervised ADL services until completion of the following:
(1) Training that includes a demonstration of job duties, followed by supervised practice.
(2) Successful completion and passing the Department-approved direct care training course and passing of the competency test.
(3) Initial direct care staff person training to include the following:
(i) Safe management techniques.
(ii) ADLs and IADLs.
(iii) Personal hygiene.
(iv) Care of residents with dementia, mental illness, cognitive impairments, an intellectual disability and other mental disabilities.
(v) The normal aging-cognitive, psychological and functional abilities of individuals who are older.
(vi) Implementation of the initial assessment, annual assessment and support plan.
(vii) Nutrition, food handling and sanitation.
(viii) Recreation, socialization, community resources, social services and activities in the community.
(ix) Gerontology.
(x) Staff person supervision, if applicable.
(xi) Care and needs of residents with special emphasis on the residents being served in the home.
(xii) Safety management and hazard prevention.
(xiii) Universal precautions.
(xiv) The requirements of this chapter.
(xv) Infection control.
(xvi) Care for individuals with mobility needs, such as prevention of decubitus ulcers, incontinence, malnutrition and dehydration, if applicable to the residents served in the home.
(e) Direct care staff persons shall have at least 12 hours of annual training relating to their job duties.
(1) Staff person orientation shall be included in the 12 hours of training for the first year of employment.
(2) On the job training for direct care staff persons may count for 6 out of the 12 training hours required annually.
(f) Training topics for the annual training for direct care staff persons shall include the following:
(1) Medication self-administration training.
(2) Instruction on meeting the needs of the residents as described in the preadmission screening form, assessment tool, medical evaluation and support plan.
(3) Care for residents with dementia and cognitive impairments.
(4) Infection control and general principles of cleanliness and hygiene and areas associated with immobility, such as prevention of decubitus ulcers, incontinence, malnutrition and dehydration.
(5) Personal care service needs of the resident.
(6) Safe management techniques
(7) Care for residents with mental illness or an intellectual disability, or both, if the population is served in the home.
(g) Direct care staff persons, ancillary staff persons, substitute personnel and regularly scheduled volunteers shall be trained annually in the following areas:
(1) Fire safety completed by a fire safety expert or by a staff person trained by a fire safety expert. Videos prepared by a fire safety expert are acceptable for the training if accompanied by an onsite staff person trained by a fire safety expert.
(2) Emergency preparedness procedures and recognition and response to crises and emergency situations.
(3) Resident rights.
(4) The Older Adult Protective Services Act (35 P.S. § § 10225.101—10225.5102).
(5) Falls and accident prevention.
(6) New population groups that are being served at the home that were not previously served, if applicable.
(h) If a staff person has completed the required initial direct care staff person training within the past year as a direct care staff person at another home, the requirement for initial direct care staff person training in this section does not apply if the staff person provides written verification of completion of the training.
(i) A record of training including the staff person trained, date, source, content, length of each course and copies of any certificates received, shall be kept.
Authority The provisions of this § 2600.65 amended under sections 211 and 213 and Articles IX and X of the Human Services Code (62 P.S. § § 211, 213, 901—922 and 1001—1088).
Source The provisions of this § 2600.65 amended June 17, 2016, effective June 18, 2016, 46 Pa.B. 3177. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (311287) to (311290).
Cross References This section cited in 55 Pa. Code 2600.61 (relating to substitute personnel); 55 Pa. Code § 2600.171 (relating to transportation); and 55 Pa. Code § 2600.236 (relating to training).
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