DSP Training Requirements from OPWDD
The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) has recently updated NYS OPWDD Direct Care Training Requirements document. This updated document better specifies completion requirement date ranges for initial DSP trainings and also identifies one-time trainings, yearly trainings, and as-needed trainings.
The Training Requirements document has also incorporated Delegated Nursing Services requirements; it includes guidance from ADM #2015-03 (Registered Professional Supervision of Unlicensed Direct Care Support Professionals to Individuals Residing in Certified and Non-Certified Locations). ADM #2015-03 allows providers to request approval for staff to administer medications in community settings.
Of note, an update to Infection Control and Blood Borne Pathogens training requirements has been added to the Training Requirements document. This training is now only required once, rather than initially upon hire and annually, as previous guidance dictated. Additionally, training on behavioral interventions now directs plan training before implementing any Behavior Support Plans. While this expectation was already in regulation, it was not identified in the previous Training Requirements document.
The DSP requirements have been posted to the OPWDD website and are effective as of October 2022. The NYS OPWDD Direct Care Training Requirements document can be found HERE.
DQI Survey Experience materials OPWDD
Recently, the OPWDD Division of Quality Improvement (DQI) developed a procedure agencies can utilize to dispute survey deficiencies. The Process for Provider Report of Concerns Regarding Survey Experience and/or Communications guidance expresses DQI’s expectations that surveys are conducted with objectivity and with the understanding that providers are allowed to demonstrate compliance with survey findings. Further, the guidance conveys the DQI survey requirement that provider staff and surveyors discuss areas of concern during the survey process.
Whenever a provider has concerns with interactions by DQI staff or if findings appear incongruent with the survey process, OPWDD requests that providers submit a Survey Experience Concerns Form by email to DQIAdmin@opwdd.ny.gov and cc the appropriate Bureau of Program Certification (BPC) Area Director. DQI has implemented these processes effective October 03, 2022, for any DQI survey/review activities initiated on or after that date.
The Survey Experience Concerns Form can be found HERE, and the Process for Provider Report of Concerns Regarding Survey Experience and/or Communications can be found HERE.
Proposed amendments to 14 NYCRR Part 687
OPWDD has proposed changes to its regulations that govern Family Care providers, 14 NYCRR Part 687 to aid in clarifying responsibilities of family care providers. The proposed changes intend to:
- Clarify that the Part 687 regulations apply to both State-sponsored and Voluntary-sponsored family care homes;
- More clearly define the responsibilities of a family care provider and specifies that the minimum requirements listed in the proposed changes are in addition to any other regulations issued by OPWDD;
- Applies the responsibilities to family care homes and/or their sponsoring agencies;
- Outline notice requirements when a family care provider wishes to cease providing services or when OPWDD seeks to suspend, modify or limit a family care operating certificate to ensure any notice is sent to the provider’s executive director;
- And limit the number of individuals who can be served by a new family care provider from six to four.
CQL Accreditation Questions Webinar materials
This webinar features a panel of CQL experts and addresses several areas related to the accreditation process, such as the length of time the process typically takes, who from the provider organization should be involved in the process, and the self-assessment process.
Additionally, the most common accreditation questions related to the Request for Engagement form, the ‘on-site’ review process, and the follow-up visits throughout the provider’s accreditation term are answered in the webinar. The Accreditation Questions Webinar can be found HERE.
Please contact us if you have questions regarding any of this information.
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