Section 388-71-0752 - What are the adult day centers' staffing qualifications and requirements?(1) Staff selection is dependent on participant needs, program design, and contracting requirements. The center must have the proper balance of professionals and paraprofessionals or nonprofessionals to adequately meet the needs of participants. Services must be delivered by those with adequate professional training. A staff person can have multiple functions, such as an administrator who is also responsible for providing nursing services or social services.(2) To ensure continuity of direction and supervision, there must be a clear division of responsibility between the governing body and the adult day center administrator.(3) The administrator must be given full authority and responsibility to plan, staff, direct, and implement the program. The administrator must also have the responsibility for establishing collaborative relations with other community organizations to ensure necessary support services to participants and their families or caregivers.(4) The administrator must be on site to manage the center's day-to-day operations during hours of operation. If the administrator is responsible for more than one site, or has duties not related to adult day center administration or provision of services, a program director must be designated for each additional site and must report to the administrator.(5) The administrator must be responsible for the development of a written plan of operation with approval of the governing body and the development, coordination, supervision, fiscal control, and evaluation of services provided through the adult day center.(6) A nurse or other personnel with a current first aid and CPR card must be on-site whenever participants are attending the adult day care or health program.(7) Required credentials must be verified to ensure that they are current and in good standing for licensed and certified staff.(8) Adult day centers may utilize a range of staff under contract or consulting from a larger parent organization or from a private entity to provide services.(9) Staff commonly utilized by both adult day care and adult day health centers must meet the following requirements:(a) An activity coordinator must have a bachelor's degree in recreational therapy or a related field and one year of experience (fulltime equivalent) in social or health services; or an associate degree in recreational therapy or a related field plus two years of appropriate experience; or three years of paid experience in an activity program and expertise with the population served at the center.(b) The nurse must be a registered nurse (RN) with valid Washington or multistate credentials in good standing and have at least one-year applicable experience (full-time equivalent) in ambulatory care or hospital nursing or geriatric or preferably in home health or older adult community-based nursing or work with disabled clients. In addition to a registered nurse, an adult day center can utilize a licensed practical nurse (LPN), but the LPN must be supervised in compliance with all applicable nurse practice acts and standards. The LPN must have valid state credentials in good standing and at least one-year applicable experience (full-time equivalent) in ambulatory care of hospital nursing or geriatric or preferably in home health or older adult community-based nursing or work with disabled clients. In the adult day care center, the RN or LPN does not need to be on site during all hours of operation. In the adult day health (ADH) center, the RN or LPN must be on site when the attending participants who need nursing services are attending the ADH program. If there are no participants who have nursing service interventions identified on their negotiated care plan in attendance, then the nurse is not required to be on site during the ADH program time.(c) The social services professional must have a master's degree in social work, gerontology, or other human services field, or counseling and at least one year of professional work experience (fulltime equivalent), or a bachelor's degree in social work, counseling, or a related field and two years of experience in a human services field. (d) Program assistant and aides or personal care aides must have the appropriate knowledge, skills, and training to meet the individual needs of the participants before they are allowed to provide care and services. The assistant and aide competencies must be documented demonstrating their qualification to meet the needs of the center's participants within their job description.(e) Consultants from a larger parent organization without formal contracts may be utilized whenever the center is part of a larger organization that has the ability to provide professional services within the larger framework.(f) Consultants, with appropriate, valid state credentials may be utilized as needed to meet the requirements outlined in this chapter. The rehabilitative consultants must perform the professional assessment of the participant, train the staff regarding the participant's therapy needs and therapeutic interventions, monitor the rehabilitation program and evaluate the participant's progress for discharge planning.(g) Secretaries and bookkeepers must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent and skills and training to carry out the duties of the position.(h) If the adult day center provides transportation, drivers must have a valid and appropriate state driver's license, a safe driving record, and training in first aid and CPR. The driver must meet all state requirements for licensure or certification.(i) Volunteers may be individuals or groups who desire to work with adult day center clients and must take part in program orientation and training. Volunteers and staff must mutually determine the duties of volunteers. Duties to be performed under the supervision of a staff member must either supplement staff in established activities or provide additional services for which the volunteer has special talents. Volunteers will be included in the staff ratio only when they conform to the same standards and requirements as paid staff, meet the job qualification standards of the organization, and have designated responsibilities.(j) Dietitians must be certified with valid state credentials and have a minimum of one year applicable experience (full-time equivalent).Wash. Admin. Code § 388-71-0752
Amended by WSR 15-01-174, Filed 12/23/2014, effective 1/23/2015Amended by WSR 24-16-082, Filed 8/1/2024, effective 9/1/2024Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.04.200, 74.08.090, 74.09.520, and 74.39A.030. 03-06-024, § 388-71-0752, filed 2/24/03, effective 7/1/03.