Ariz. Admin. Code § R6-5-7437 - Staff Coverage; Staff-child Ratios
A. A licensee shall have a written plan to
minimize the risk of harm to children. The written plan shall describe the
staffing for each facility, for 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The
staffing plan shall explain:
1. How staff
coverage is assured:
a. When assigned staff
are absent due to illness, vacation, or other leaves of absence; and
b. During emergencies when only one staff
member is on duty; and
2. The methods the licensee uses to assure
adequate communication and support among staff to provide continuity of
services to children.
B.
A licensee shall also have a written staffing schedule for each facility shift;
the schedule shall document the staff actually on duty during each shift. The
licensee shall retain the schedules in one designated location for at least two
years.
C. A licensee shall have at
least the paid staff to child ratios prescribed in this subsection.
1. Age 12 and above:
a. At least one paid staff member for each 10
children when children are under the licensee's direct supervision and
awake.
b. During sleep hours, at
least one paid staff member in each building where children in care are
sleeping.
2. Age 6
through 11:
a. At least one paid staff member
for each eight children when children are under the licensee's direct
supervision and awake.
b. During
sleep hours, at least one paid staff member in each building where children in
care are sleeping.
3.
Age 3 through 5:
a. At least one paid staff
member for each six children when children are under the licensee's direct
supervision and awake.
b. At least
one paid staff member in each building where children in care are
sleeping.
4. Under age
3:
a. At least one paid staff member for each
five children when children are under the licensee's direct supervision and
awake.
b. At least one paid staff
member for each six children when children are sleeping.
5. Nonambulatory children, under age 6: At
least one paid staff member for each four children at all times.
6. Young adults:
a. At least one paid staff member onsite for
each 10 young adults when young adults are under the licensee's direct
supervision and awake.
b. During
sleep hours, at least one paid staff member onsite for each 20 young
adults.
D.
For the purpose of the paid staff-child ratios in subsection (C):
1. Students and volunteers do not count as
staff;
2. A child who lives at the
facility is counted as a child, unless the child is not in the care, custody,
and control of the state of Arizona, and the child's parent is:
a. In care, residing in the same facility;
and
b. Determined to be the child's
primary caregiver by;
i. The placing
agency;
ii. A court; or
iii. The licensee, when subsections (i) and
(ii) do not apply;
3. When a child resides with a parent in a
facility licensed under this Article, the licensee shall provide, at the
Department's request, documentation of:
a. The
custodial relationship between parent and child; and
b. If applicable, the determination that the
parent is an acceptable primary caregiver for the child.
4. Any paid staff member counted in the ratio
shall be someone who is qualified to provide direct child care as prescribed in
R6-5-7432(E).
E. A
licensee shall not fall below the minimum paid staff-child ratios specified in
subsection (C), and shall, notwithstanding those ratios, have paid staff:
1. Sufficient to care for children as
prescribed in this Article and in the licensee's own program description,
statement of purpose, and policies;
2. That take into account the following
factors:
a. The ages, capabilities,
developmental levels, and service plans of the children in care;
b. The time of day and the size and nature of
the facility; and
c. The facility's
history and the frequency and severity of unusual incidents, including
runaways, sexual acting-out behavior, disciplinary problems, and
injuries.
F.
A licensee shall have sufficient numbers of qualified staff to perform the
fiscal, clerical, food service, housekeeping, and maintenance functions
prescribed in this Article and in the licensee's own policies.
G. A licensee shall make a good faith effort
to employ staff who reflect the cultural and ethnic characteristics of the
children in care.
Notes
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