Section 29-352. CAREGIVER QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

352.1Each Child Development Home Caregiver shall meet the following requirements:

 

(a)Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;

 

(b)Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development certificate, with the exception that all Caregivers licensed on the effective date of these rules shall have four (4) years from that date within which to obtain the diploma or certificate;

 

(c)Attend an annual regulatory compliance review seminar presented by the Department of Health;

 

(d)Attend at least three (3) child development-related training courses, approved by the District of Columbia government, per year, for a total of no less than nine (9) hours of training per year;

 

(e)Successfully complete training, as approved by the District of Columbia government, on precautions against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome;

 

(f)Undergo a physical examination by a licensed health care practitioner at least annually, and obtain written and signed documentation, from the examining practitioner, that the Caregiver, at the time of the examination, is free of tuberculosis and other diseases in communicable form, and is physically capable of caring for children; and

 

(g)Undergo training and obtain certification in First Aid and CPR for children, and maintain documentation of current certification in both.

 

352.2The duties of a Child Development Home Caregiver shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

 

(a)Orienting each member of the Facility household to the standards and rules governing Child Development Homes;

 

(b)Operating the home in compliance with all applicable laws and rules;

 

(c)Supervising each enrolled child;

 

(d)Ensuring that any other duties or activities performed on behalf of the household do not interfere with the supervision and care given to the enrolled children;

 

(e)Ensuring that each person residing in the home has a physical examination by a licensed health care practitioner at least annually and that each is certified by the examining practitioner to be free of communicable disease;

 

(f)Supervising and accompanying all visitors who are present in the home or on the grounds during the Facility's hours of operation;

 

(g)Reporting to the Director, and to the parent(s) or guardian(s) of each affected child, any unusual incident or accident that occurs in the home, in accordance with the section 322 of this Chapter.

 

(h)Ensuring that an adequate number of back-up personnel, qualified in accordance with the requirements set forth in this Chapter and registered with the Director, are engaged by the Facility and are available to be present at the Facility when needed, in accordance with this Chapter, at all times during the Facility's hours of operation;

 

(i)Developing and implementing written contingency plans, including written instructions for all Facility personnel and for all responsible household members, for use in case of emergencies, both medical and non-medical; and

 

(j)Being responsible for the overall supervision and administration of the program of care provided to the enrolled children.

 

source

Final Rulemaking published at 54 DCR 003793 (April 27, 2007).