Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. STAFF COMPETENCY POLICY The Agency will ensure competency of the patient care staff. The competency of staff will be assessed and improvement needs will be Identified on an ongoing basis. Clinical competency evaluations are performed at time of hire (prior to providing care independently) and annually (within 30 days before or after of anniversary date of employment) to assess employee basic skill levels for all staff providing patient care. The initial competency may be completed during the probation period, if more time is needed to correct assess the field staff abilities. The clinical competency procedures identify learning needs of employees and provide input into staff development/in-service planning. 1. Agency will determine competency on hire and annual (within 30 days before or after of anniversary date of employment) of all licensed nurses, therapists, and para-professional staff. 2. Agency will assess competency by self competency checklist by demonstration or verbally, competency training/checkoff. 3. Nursing/Therapist/Para-professional staff will not be assigned procedures, for which competency has not been established. 4. Agency will assign a qualified individual to observe the patient care staff (annually Joint visit). 5. The evaluation checklist on competency will be completed by the Registered Nurse/Therapist and the nurse/therapist/para-professional staff performing (being evaluated) the competency. 6. The evaluation checklist will be completed and retained in the employee's personnel file. 7. The employee will be given an additional follow-up educational training as needed. 8. Competency of supervisors and/or management staff is assessed by the individual’s immediate superior and may include peer evaluation as a component of the process. 9. We maintain a system for verification of licensure of physicians who are responsible for providing orders for client’s plans of care, and for the professional staff who delivery the care. Our Agency will verify the minimum education and training, licensure, certification, experience, and the minimum competencies, required for each service/care offered, we will document that personnel have received the required training collecting staff certificates, diplomas, etc. We will maintain a plan in place for addressing performance and education of personnel when they do not meet competency requirements, that included face to face training by our Education Coordinator, Supervision visit, and referral to a vocational training facility. Our competency training/orientation define the process to assure that direct care personnel demonstrates competency in any new task before being assigned to that task, we also has a process to ensure that personnel are proven competent to perform task(s) after re-training is provided. Responsibilities: Annual Competencies Evaluations: • HHAs will be competency evaluated during performance of duties annually, by the DON, Clinical Manager or qualified Registered Nurse • LPN/RNs will be competency evaluated during performance of duties annually, by the DON, Clinical Manager or qualified Registered Nurse • Therapists will be competency evaluated during performance of duties annually, by a qualified Registered Therapist (same discipline) Home Health Agency. - - Personnel/Operations Policies B-95