Failure to Provide Abuse Training to Dietary Contract Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all 18 dietary contract employees received required training on abuse prevention, identification, and reporting prior to working. According to the facility's Abuse Prevention Program policy, mandated staff training on abuse is required for all staff, including contract employees. However, record review and interviews revealed that the dietary contractor was responsible for providing this training but did not include the necessary abuse training in their orientation or supplemental materials for dietary staff. The DON confirmed that the dietary staff had not been trained on identifying and reporting abuse before starting their duties. Interviews with human resources, the regional director of operations, and the administrator indicated that there was confusion regarding the responsibility for abuse training. The facility expected the dietary contractor to provide the training, but the contractor omitted the abuse training supplement. The contract between the facility and the dietary contractor did not clearly specify the requirement for abuse training, leading to the oversight. At the time of the survey, 141 residents resided in the facility, and none of the 18 dietary contract staff had received the mandated abuse training.