Failure to Provide Required Staff Training After Substance Abuse Incident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide staff training on dementia care, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and the procedures for reporting such incidents, as well as ongoing substance abuse training following a significant event. Specifically, after a staff member was arrested for drinking while driving residents in the facility van, there was no formal training or education provided to staff regarding substance abuse, safe transportation, or abuse prevention. Multiple staff interviews confirmed that no additional training or audits were conducted after the incident, and staff were only verbally informed that drinking while working would result in termination. The facility's own policies require education on abuse, neglect, and exploitation during orientation and periodically thereafter, but this was not followed after the incident. Record review and staff interviews revealed that staff involved in resident transportation did not receive formal training on safe transport or abuse prevention, and there were no checklists, audits, or ongoing education provided. The administration could not recall any specific training or follow-up after the alcohol-related incident, and the only action taken was the removal of driving privileges from the involved staff member. Facility policies reviewed indicated a requirement for ongoing education on abuse prevention and a drug-free workplace, but these were not implemented as required.