La. Admin. Code tit. 48 § I-5523

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-5523 - General Staffing Provisions

A. To conduct the direct-care program, staff personnel shall be sufficient, appropriately qualified, and adequately trained. All direct-care personnel shall be administratively responsible to a person whose training and experience is appropriate to the program.

B. There shall be at least one direct-care staff person on duty in any area of the facility where children are present or are expected to be present.

C. The number of appropriate direct-care staff will be determined by a consideration of the following factors:

1. the number of children;

2. the type and severity of their handicaps;

3. the amount of time that the children are under the care of the facility;

4. the type of program offered by the facility.

D. Regardless of the organization or design of the facility, the overall direct care staff ratio shall be 5 to 16 unless program needs justify otherwise. This means 5 direct care staff on duty each day to every 16 persons in care. For example, there should be present and on duty, on every day of the year, at least one direct care person for each eight residents on the first shift, one direct care person for each eight residents on the second shift, and one direct care person for each 16 residents on the third shift.

E. The above direct care ratio may be waived by the certifying agency if the facility has documented evidence that there is not a need for staff in these numbers and that the health and safety of the residents would not be impaired.

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-5523

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of the Secretary, Division of Licensing and Certification, LR 13:246 (April 1987).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 46:1971 through 1980.