Section 245.71  Qualifications and Requirements for Home Services Workers

a)         Each agency shall ensure and maintain documentation in the employee file that all persons employed or providing services as an in-home services worker, and who are not otherwise licensed, certified or registered in accordance with Illinois law to render such care, comply with the following conditions:

1)         Does not have a disqualifying background check under the requirements of the Health Care Worker Background Check Act without a waiver;

2)         Has a copy of the Social Security card; and

3)         Has visa or proof of citizenship in compliance with federal requirements for employment.

b)         Each placement agency shall provide a minimum of eight hours of training for each home services worker prior to his or her first assignment.  The training shall include all of the items noted in subsection (d) of this Section.

c)         Each home services agency shall provide a minimum of eight hours of training for each home services worker.  Four hours of training shall be provided prior to the home services worker's first assignment, and the remaining four hours shall be provided within the worker's first 30 days after employment.  The training shall include the components of subsections (d)(1)-(12) of this Section.

d)         The agency shall provide proof of a competency evaluation conducted by the agency or proof that the worker has successfully completed a training program at another licensed home services agency within the prior year (previous 365 days).  The competency evaluation or proof of prior training at a licensed home services agency within the prior year shall address each of the following subjects:

1)         The employee's job responsibilities and limitations;

2)         Communication skills in areas such as with persons who are hard of hearing, have dementia, or have other special needs;

3)         Observation, reporting and documentation of client status and the service furnished, including changes in functional ability and mental status demonstrated by the client;

4)         Performance of personal care tasks for clients, including:  bathing; skin care; hair care; nail care; mouth care; shaving; dressing; feeding; assistance with ambulation; exercise and transfers; positioning; toileting; and medication reminding;

5)         Performance of ability to assist in the use of specific adaptive equipment, such as a mechanical lifting device, if the worker will be working with clients who use the device;

6)         Basic hygiene and basic infection control practices;

7)         Maintenance of a clean, safe and healthy environment;

8)         Basic personal and environmental safety precautions;

9)         Recognizing emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures, including basic first aid and implementation of a client's emergency preparedness plan;

10)        Confidentiality of client personal, financial and health information;

11)        Behaviors that would constitute abuse or neglect and the legal prohibitions against such behaviors, as well as knowledge and understanding of abuse and neglect prevention and reporting requirements; and

12)        Any other task that the agency may choose to have the worker perform.

e)         All home services workers shall complete a minimum of eight hours of training during each year of employment based on either a calendar year or an anniversary date basis, whichever is selected by the agency.  The initial eight hours of training required in subsection (c) of this Section shall satisfy the annual training requirement for the home services worker's first year of employment.  The annual training can include self-study courses with demonstration of learned concepts that are applicable to the employee's responsibilities.  Training shall include:

1)         Promoting client dignity, independence, self-determination, privacy, choice and rights;

2)         Disaster procedures;

3)         Hygiene and infection control; and

4)         Abuse and neglect prevention and reporting requirements.

f)          All training shall be documented with the date of the training; starting and ending times; instructors and their qualifications; short description of content; and staff member's signature.

            (Source:  Added at 32 Ill. Reg. 8949, effective June 5, 2008)