How often should you provide education on Abuse & Neglect Prevention?
Helping to protect our senior population takes an entire community of people looking out for them, especially when a senior is allowing people into their home for care.
Every home care agency is required to provide training on abuse, neglect and occurrence reporting UPON HIRE AND AT LEAST ANNUALLY. With it being 2023, when is the last time you provided education to your staff on the reporting process if they are a witness to an allegation of abuse?
If it has been awhile, now is a great time to discuss this topic at your next all staff meeting, sending out to your field staff, as well as bring up in your morning huddle.
Not sure what exactly to do for the education to staff? We have some tips on what to include in your training.
- Reference the CDPHE Occurrence Reporting Manual - there are 14 defined Occurrences that need to be reported to the Administrator immediately. Do you know all 14? Can you speak to some examples for more common types of Occurrences (i.e. abuse, neglect, misappropriation of property)?
- Have a defined protocol that MUST be followed every time when staff receive an allegation of abuse: Staff member must immediately report it to the office, office provides initial direction to the field staff member, office contacts the Administrator immediately, the Administrator determines if this report is a reportable Occurrence and provides further direction to staff; Administrator initiates investigation, etc.
- Use real world examples and scenarios to discuss what an occurrence looks like in action.
- Provide a clear INDIVIDUAL education and protocol to all staff members and require it to be signed and dated. Keep the signed copy in the personnel file, as well as in your Occurrence Reporting Program binder to show proof of training.
I GOT YOU!!!
Deliberate misplacing, exploiting or wrongful use of a patient's property or resident's property
OR
A pattern of misplacing, exploiting or wrongful use of a patient's property or resident's property
AND
Patient/resident consent NOT given
Scenario:
● A client reports to the agency that she saw a staff member put the client’s iPad into the staff member’s bag. The staff member then left her house. The client stated the staff member did it on purpose and the client did not say it was ok. The staff member has no previous history with misappropriation.
● Reportable? YES!
● Deliberate misplacing/exploiting of a patient’s property AND Patient consent not given.
Discussing real world scenarios is one of the best ways for staff to understand Occurrences and the important of contacting the office immediately!!
Click Here: Fully customized Occurrence Reporting Program Package!!
Each home care agency should have a fully developed program for reporting, investigating and recording occurrences in the State of Colorado. The regulations for Occurrence Reporting were modified with the large revision of Chapter 26 in 2022.
Has your program been updated?
Here are the critical components of a compliant Occurrence Reporting Program:
- Occurrence Reporting Policy
- Staff Education for Abuse, Neglect and Misappropriation Reporting Protocol
- Copy of the CDPHE Occurrence Manual
- Occurrence Reporting Log
- Occurrence Investigation Form
- Deaths Reportable to Local Coroner Policy
We are offering the full Occurrence Reporting Program package. This has everything you need to be in compliance with Occurrences, including staff education.
Click on the link below to get your very own all-inclusive package that you can download and implement today!
Click Here: I Want My Own Occurrence Reporting Program
Still have questions?
Email me at [email protected]
call me at 303.578.8262.
I respond to every email, I really do