Before assuming job responsibilities, and at least annually thereafter, direct-care staff members must receive in-service training in the following areas:
- reporting abuse, neglect or exploitation;
- maintaining confidentiality of participant information, including data use agreements;
- taking universal precautions (that is, following the approach to infection control established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration);
- conditions in which they should notify the facility manager;
- understanding the participants' rights;
- following emergency and evacuation procedures;
- taking safety measures to prevent accidents and injuries;
- following emergency first-aid procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver and what actions to take when a participant falls, suffers a laceration, or experiences a sudden change in physical or mental status;
- managing disruptive behavior and implementing behavior management (for example, prevention of aggressive behavior and de-escalation techniques, practices to decrease the frequency of the use of restraint, and alternatives to restraints);
- appropriate physical restraint procedures and techniques for staff members with direct participant contact;
- fall prevention;
- cardiopulmonary arrest (CPR) and basic life support (BLS) training; and
- substance abuse training, including how to recognize substance abuse and understanding reporting protocols.