Failure to Screen Employee for Abuse and Neglect History Prior to Hire
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its policies and procedures regarding the screening of employees for a history of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation of resident property. Specifically, one of eight employees reviewed, identified as Intern D, was hired without the required Background Information Disclosure (BID), Department of Justice (DOJ) response, or Government Findings report being completed prior to starting work. The facility's policy mandates that all potential employees, including students affiliated with academic institutions, must undergo background, reference, and credential checks before employment. During the survey, it was discovered that both the facility and the corporate office assumed the other party was responsible for conducting Intern D's background check, resulting in the process not being completed. Despite this oversight, Intern D was observed in resident care areas obtaining paperwork for surveyors, even though the administrator stated that Intern D was being kept in the office. This failure to follow established screening procedures directly contravened the facility's abuse prevention policy.