Failure to Complete Pre-Employment Background Screening for Staff Member
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its policies and procedures to prohibit and prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation of residents, as well as misappropriation of property, by not completing pre-employment background screening for a newly hired nursing assistant in training (NAIT). Documentation review revealed that the NAIT began working in the facility without a completed criminal background study, as required by both facility policy and state regulations. The NAIT worked full-time across all units in the facility for several months, and the required background clearance was not present in the employee file. The NAIT had completed the background study form online but did not complete the fingerprinting process, resulting in no background clearance being issued. Interviews with facility staff, including the DON and the administrator, confirmed that the background screening process was not completed prior to the NAIT starting work, contrary to facility policy. The administrator was unaware of the missing background clearance until the time of the survey. Facility policies reviewed specified that employees may not begin working until background study results are received and confirm the applicant is not disqualified. The failure to complete the required background screening had the potential to affect all 71 residents in the facility, as the NAIT worked on all units.