Failure to Complete Required Background Checks for New Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its written policies and procedures designed to prohibit and prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation, and misappropriation of resident property, specifically regarding the screening of prospective employees. Record review revealed that two staff members, an LPN and an LNA, did not have the required state adult background checks or Adult Abuse Registry checks on file, despite having been employed at the facility for several weeks. The facility's policy mandates background checks for all new employees and volunteers, including checks of the Child Abuse Registry, Adult Abuse Registry, criminal convictions, and the OIG exclusions database, with all information to be maintained in the personnel file. During an interview, the Administrator confirmed that the required adult background checks for these staff members were not completed prior to their employment and stated that the agency typically conducts these checks. However, the background checks were only provided on the day of the interview, indicating they were not completed as required by policy before the staff began working. The Administrator also clarified that Human Resources is responsible for conducting background checks.