Failure to Employ Qualified Social Worker in Facility with Over 120 Beds
Penalty
Summary
The facility, licensed to provide care for 211 residents, failed to employ a qualified full-time social worker who met the educational and supervised experience requirements as mandated for facilities with more than 120 beds. Review of staff records and interviews revealed that none of the four social workers reviewed (including three full-time and one per diem) possessed the required qualifications. Specifically, one social worker held a master's degree in theology, which is not considered a human services field, and another had only an associate's degree without a bachelor's in social work or a related field. The qualifications for the remaining social workers were not provided despite multiple requests. Interviews with facility administrators confirmed a lack of familiarity with the required qualifications for social workers in such a setting. Documentation such as job descriptions, policies, and evidence of one year of supervised social work experience in a healthcare setting were not provided for any of the social workers. This deficiency was identified through staff interviews, record reviews, and email correspondence, with administrators acknowledging gaps in compliance with regulatory requirements.