Failure to Complete Required Background Checks for New Hires
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete required Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks upon hire for multiple new employees, including housekeepers, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), a med tech, a maintenance director, dietary aides, and the administrator. Personnel record reviews and interviews confirmed that these background checks were not performed as mandated by facility policy, which requires such checks prior to employment. The facility's BCI log indicated that background checks had been completed for all new employees, but further review of individual personnel records revealed otherwise. During interviews, both the administrator and the Employee Lifecycle Manager acknowledged that the required background checks had not been completed for the identified staff members. The facility policy on abuse, neglect, and misappropriation of property specifically states that only properly screened individuals should be employed, and that extensive background checks are a part of this process. The failure to conduct these checks had the potential to affect all residents in the facility, which had a census of 137 residents at the time.