Unqualified Staff Assigned to Case Manager Role
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a staff member assigned as a case manager possessed the specific competencies and skill sets required for the role. The individual, who had been working as a case manager since 2014, was found to be a certified nurse assistant with a Restorative Nursing Assistant certification, but lacked formal training or the required qualifications for case management. The staff member reported learning the role from a previous case manager rather than through formal education or training, and her employee file did not reflect the necessary licensure or credentials as outlined in the job description. The Director of Nursing (DON) was unaware that the staff member was not qualified to perform the duties of a case manager and acknowledged the risks associated with having an unqualified individual in this position. The facility's policy required validation of licensure and competency assessments for all staff based on their job descriptions within the first 90 days of employment, but this process was not followed for the case manager. This deficiency had the potential to impact the quality of care and services provided to residents.