1744.07 LICENSE HOLDERS, OPERATORS, SUBSTITUTE OPERATORS AND EMPLOYEES.

   (a)   Qualifications.

      (1)   License holders, operators, substitute operators, and employees of group homes shall possess the following minimum qualifications:

         A.   They shall be at least eighteen years of age and shall be able to read, write and speak English; except for the license holder, who must be at least twenty-one years of age.

         B.   They shall be free from communicable disease as defined by Chapter 3701-3 of the Ohio Administrative Code, and shall provide appropriate documentation from a licensed physician to the Health Commissioner or designee within ten days of employment. They shall provide documentation of having had a physical examination by a licensed physician indicating that he/she is physically capable of working and performing all required job responsibilities within ten days of employment.

         C.   They shall have documentation of being screened for tuberculosis as evidenced by a two-step Mantoux test, recorded in millimeters or chest x-ray within five days of employment and a single Mantoux test annually. If the employee previously had a significant (positive) Mantoux test then all significant (positive) Mantoux tests should be followed with a chest x-ray.

      (2)   In addition to the above-mentioned qualifications, operators and employees of a group home shall:

         A.   Be able to recognize emergency situations and possess the ability to contact emergency medical and fire services; and

      (3)   In addition to the above-mentioned qualifications the license holder and the operator shall ensure that, license holders, operators, substitute operators and employees:

         A.   Be trained and certified in an American Red Cross standard first aid course, every three years and C.P.R., in accordance with the standards of the American Heart Association, yearly and trained in universal precautions, consistent with the current guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; proof of said training and certification shall be provided and maintained in the employee's personnel file for as long as the individual remains employed by the group home.

         B.   Be trained in universal precautions; proof of said training and certification shall be provided and maintained in the employee's personnel file for as long as the individual remains employed by the group home. Each facility shall develop and implement appropriate procedures which at a minimum shall provide for the following:

            1.   Individuals working in the facility shall wash their hands before beginning work and upon completing work, before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after covering their mouths when sneezing and coughing, before and after providing personal care for a resident when there has been physical contact, after contact with contaminated materials, before handling food, and other appropriate times;

            2.   The facility shall keep clean and soiled linen separate. Individuals handling linen shall hold both dirty and clean linen away from the body to avoid contamination to the linen or the individual handling the linen. Soiled laundry shall be handled as little as possible and with minimum agitation. The facility shall use normal laundry cycles according to the washer and detergent manufacturers' recommendations; and

            3.   Individuals providing personal care services that may result in exposure to blood, body fluids, or feces, shall wear disposable latex gloves as a protective barrier and shall change gloves and dispose of the used gloves and wash hands before contact with another resident. If exposed to blood, another body fluid, or feces, the individual who has been exposed shall wash his or her hands and other exposed skin surfaces immediately and thoroughly with soap and hot water. Individuals providing personal care services shall wash their hands before and after providing the services even if they used gloves. The facility shall provide follow- up consistent with the guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to all employees.

         C.   Be familiar with fire, electrical, plumbing and heating systems of the group home.

      (4)   In addition to the above-mentioned qualifications, employees of a group home shall:

         A.   Possess the ability to follow oral and written directions;

         B.   Be able to properly prepare and serve meals, if assigned such duties;

         C.   Be able to properly perform housekeeping functions, if assigned such duties; and

         D.   Not be a resident of the group home, except as provided by subsection (b)(1)B. hereof.

   (b)   Duties.

      (1)   The license holder and operator shall:

         A.   Be responsible for the management of the group home and for the provision of an adequate level of supervision of the residents;

         B.   Ensure that no resident of the group home is employed by or within the group home, except, in instances where an individual habilitation plan allows for the employment of a resident. The individual habilitation plan shall be written and updated periodically and maintained in the resident's file.

         C.   Ensure that each room is equipped and maintained in a safe condition.

      (2)   The license holder shall notify the Department of Health in writing within ten days of any change in the operator or substitute operator of a group home.

      (3)   The license holder shall have the ultimate responsibility for compliance with all of the requirements of this chapter.

         (Ord. 98-88. Passed 3-4-98.)