Virginia Law

A. Personnel management and employment practices shall comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

B. The organization shall design and implement a staffing plan that reflects the types of services offered and shall provide qualified staff in sufficient numbers to meet the assessed needs of all clients.

C. Employees and contractors shall be licensed or certified as required by the Department of Health Professions.

D. The organization shall design and implement a mechanism to verify professional credentials.

E. Any person who assumes the responsibilities of any staff position or positions shall meet the minimum qualifications for that position or positions.

F. The organization shall obtain the required sworn statement and criminal record check for each compensated employee as specified in § 32.1-162.9:1 of the Code of Virginia.

G. Each employee position shall have a written job description that includes:

1. Job title;

2. Duties and responsibilities required of the position;

3. Job title of the immediate supervisor; and

4. Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities or professional qualifications required for entry level.

H. Employees shall have access to their current position description. There shall be a mechanism for advising employees of changes to their job responsibilities.

I. New employees and contract individuals shall be oriented commensurate with their function or job-specific responsibilities. Orientation shall include:

1. Objectives and philosophy of the organization;

2. Confidentiality;

3. Client rights;

4. Mandated reporting of abuse, neglect, and exploitation;

5. Applicable personnel policies;

6. Emergency preparedness procedures;

7. Infection control practices and measures;

8. Cultural awareness; and

9. Applicable laws, regulations, and other policies and procedures that apply to specific positions, specific duties and responsibilities.

J. The organization shall develop and implement a policy for evaluating employee performance.

K. Individual staff development needs and plans shall be a part of the performance evaluation.

L. The organization shall provide opportunities for and record participation in staff development activities designed to enable staff to perform the responsibilities of their positions.

M. All individuals who enter a client's home for or on behalf of the organization shall be readily identifiable by employee nametag, uniform or other visible means.

N. The organization shall maintain an organized system to manage and protect the confidentiality of personnel files and records.

O. Employee personnel records, whether hard copy or electronic, shall include:

1. Identifying information;

2. Education and training history;

3. Employment history;

4. Results of the verification of applicable professional licenses or certificates;

5. Results of reasonable efforts to secure job-related references and reasonable verification of employment history;

6. Results of performance evaluations;

7. A record of disciplinary actions taken by the organization, if any;

8. A record of adverse action by any licensing bodies and organizations, if any;

9. A record of participation in staff development activities, including orientation; and

10. The criminal record check and sworn affidavit.

P. All positive results from drug testing shall be reported to the health regulatory boards responsible for licensing, certifying, or registering the person to practice, if any, pursuant to § 32.1-162.9:1 of the Code of Virginia.

Q. Each employee personnel record shall be retained in its entirety for a minimum of three years after termination of employment.

R. Personnel record information shall be safeguarded against loss and unauthorized use.

S. Employee health-related information shall be maintained separately within the employee's personnel file.