Direct Care Professional

Job Description

Job Description

Mayson House LLP

Direct Care Professionals Requirements: Washington State DDA Home

RCW & WAC Requirements (Children’s Residential Program)

1. Age Requirements

WAC 110‐145‐1445 — Group Care Staff Qualifications

Direct care staff must be

• 21 years old or older to work independently
• 18–21 years old may work only if:
• • They meet special education/licensure criteria
  • They are paired with a qualified 21+ staff member when supervising youth age 13+

This is the primary legal age requirement for all direct care staff in children’s residential programs.

2. Education Requirements

WAC 110‐145‐1445

Direct care staff must have the following:

• High school diploma , GED , or High School Equivalency Certificate (HSEC)

No college degree is required, but it is preferred.

3. Experience Requirements

WAC 110‐145‐1445

Direct care staff must meet one of the following:

• Six months full‐time experience working directly with vulnerable populations (children, youth, individuals with disabilities, behavioral health needs), OR
• Enrollment in accredited college coursework related to caring for vulnerable populations (human services, psychology, social work, education, etc.)

4. Background Check Requirements

RCW View phone number on ziprecruiter.com — Background Checks

Before approval, direct care staff must complete and pass the following:

• Washington State background check
• FBI fingerprint‐based background check
• Child abuse/neglect registry screening
• Disqualifying conviction screening under RCW 43.43

Staff cannot begin unsupervised work until cleared.

5. Mandatory Training Requirements

WAC 388‐829C — Residential Training Requirements

Direct Care Staff must complete:

Before any direct care work:

• Orientation & Safety
• Emergency Procedures
• Mandatory Reporter
• CPR & First Aid
• Bloodborne Pathogens

Within 120 days:

• Population‐Specific Training
• Trauma‐Informed Care
• Behavioral Support & De‐escalation
• Medication Assistance (if applicable)
• Nurse Delegation Core Training (if performing delegated tasks)

Ongoing:

• Annual CPR/First Aid
• Annual Mandatory Reporter refresher
• Continuing education as required by WAC

6. Ability to Meet Client Needs

WAC 388‐826‐0310 — Staff Capability Requirements

Direct care staff must demonstrate the following:

• Ability to implement Individual Instruction & Support Plans (IISPs)
• Ability to follow medical, behavioral, and safety protocols
• Ability to maintain safety and prevent harm
• Ability to support community integration
• Ability to respond to crises and emergencies
• Ability to follow RN‐delegated tasks (if applicable)

7. Documentation & Reporting Requirements

WAC 388‐825 — DDA Service Rules

Direct Care Staff must demonstrate competency in:

• Incident reporting
• Mandatory reporting
• Daily documentation
• Medication documentation (if applicable)
• Confidentiality compliance
• Recordkeeping standards
• Rights protections

8. Supervision Requirements

WAC 110‐145‐1455 — Staff Supervision

Direct care staff must:

• Work under supervision of qualified staff
• Follow IISPs, safety plans, and behavior plans
• Complete required training under supervision
• Receive corrective action when needed

Staff under age 21 must be supervised by staff age 21+.

9. Medication & Health‐Related Requirements

WAC 246‐840‐930 — Nurse Delegation Rules

If Direct Care Staff will administer medications:

• They must complete Nurse Delegation Core Training
• They must pass RN competency evaluation
• They must follow RN instructions
• They must document medication administration correctly
• They must identify and report medication errors

10. Rights & HCBS Requirements

42 CFR 441.301 — Federal HCBS Rules

Direct care staff must be trained in the following:

• Person‐centered planning
• Community integration
• Autonomy and choice
• Rights protections
• Least restrictive interventions

These federal requirements apply to all DDA residential programs.