Date of Adoption: January 16, 2003.

     Purpose: Legislation passed in 2002, chapter 208, Laws of 2002, directed DSHS to develop safety standards in WAC for review of the residential facilities and residential-related policies and procedures for the Washington School for the Deaf. The new chapter 388-180 WAC guides DSHS-Children's Administration, Division of Licensed Resources in conducting the health and safety reviews. The safety standards provide for greater safety of residential students at the School for the Deaf.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.15.030 and 74.20.280.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 02-23-057 on November 15, 2002.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Proposed Rule: WAC 388-180-0160 What health and safety standards and written policies are required at WSD?

     (2) The school must have written policies it follows that:

     Based on comments received the change to the rule, including a numbering correction, the adopted rule is as follows: WAC 388-180-0160 What health and safety standards and written policies will the monitors be looking for when conducting the health and safety reviews of the school?

     (3) The department will be reviewing the written policies and procedures of the school that:

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 14, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 14, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: March 1, 2003.

January 16, 2003

Bonita H. Jacques

for Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

[]

     "CA/N" means child abuse or neglect as defined in chapter 26.44 WAC.

     "Department" means the department of social and health services (DSHS).

     "DLR" means the division of licensed resources, a division of children's administration, department of social and health services.

     "Residential staff" means individuals in charge of supervising the day-to-day living situation of the children in the residential portion of the school.

     "School" means the Washington State School for the Deaf.

     "Superintendent" means the superintendent of the Washington State School for the Deaf.

     "WSD" means the Washington State School for the Deaf.

[]

[]

     (a) Abuse or neglect is substantiated or "founded"; and

     (b) A referral to law enforcement is appropriate.

     (2) CPS must send a copy of the investigative report for incidents of alleged abuse or neglect to the school's superintendent.

     (3) CPS may include recommendations for increasing student safety to the superintendent and the board of trustees or its successor board.

[]

     (1) A comprehensive health and safety review of WSD must be completed every three years; and

     (2) Monitoring health and safety reviews must be completed at least quarterly until December 1, 2006.

[]

     (a) The Governor;

     (b) The legislature;

     (c) The superintendent; and

     (d) The school's board of trustees or its successor board.

     (2) The department provides a copy of the periodic monitoring health and safety review reports of the school to the superintendent and to the Governor.

[]

     The health and safety standards that apply to WSD are as follows:

     (1) All residential program personnel and volunteer staff at the school must comply with the mandatory reporting requirements of child abuse or neglect, RCW 26.44.020.

     (2) The school must comply with all applicable fire marshal and department of health requirements.

     Written policies and procedures

     (3) The department will be reviewing the written policies and procedures of the school that:

     (a) Promote a program aimed at providing personal safety and protection of all students residing at the school;

     (b) Provide sufficient staffing levels on all shifts to meet the physical, emotional, and safety needs of all students, as required under RCW 72.40.240;

     (c) Implement and maintain effective admission and retention policies that protect all students from sexual victimization, as required under RCW 72.40.270;

     (d) Implement and maintain an effective communication system between educational staff and residential staff and parents and/or legal guardians;

     (e) Ensure that the residential facility meets all applicable fire and health requirements and promote environmental safety against physical risk or harm to students;

     (f) Minimize student-to-student conflict or harm when transporting students;

     (g) Conduct and document background and CA/N checks on all staff to determine each employee's suitability for employment at the school (see chapter 388-06 WAC);

     (h) Provide all students with training on self-protection from abuse or neglect, as required under RCW 72.40.230 and 72.40.260;

     (i) Implement and maintain effective child protection policies that include proper reporting of incidents, notification, documentation, and cooperation with the department and law enforcement;

     (j) Describe what procedures staff must follow when they have reason to believe a student may have been abused or neglected, as defined under RCW 26.44.020; and

     (k) Maintain adequate documentation of all abuse or neglect incidents.

[]

     (2) The reviewers must:

     (a) Examine the residential facilities for health and safety (a specific list of elements for review are outlined in WAC 388-180-0230);

     (b) Develop appropriate questionnaires or survey tools for interviews;

     (c) Conduct interviews of staff, students, parent, teacher, and community stakeholders for concerns of student health and safety at the school.

     (d) Review facility logs, including incident reports and daily shift logs;

     (e) Review medication policies, including documentation of medicine disbursement when and by whom;

     (f) Review admissions and expulsion policies for compliance with RCW 72.40.040;

     (g) Review staff coverage policies for compliance with RCW 72.40.240 and 72.40.270;

     (h) Review behavior management policy for compliance with RCW 72.40.220, including a description of the de-escalation techniques used with different ages or developmental levels of students;

     (i) Review employee/volunteer supervision policies for compliance with RCW 72.40.250;

     (j) Review policies for protecting students from abuse or neglect policies for compliance with RCW 72.40.250;

     (k) Review any corrective action plans including implementing the written plan of action to assure health and safety and prevention of abuse or neglect incidents as directed in RCW 72.40.250;

     (l) Review the documentation of awareness and prevention training of staff for compliance with RCW 72.40.230 and 72.40.260; and

     (m) Sample criminal history and CA/N checks of school employees for compliance with the school's criminal history inquiry and FBI fingerprinting process.

[]

     (a) Inspection and evaluation of the school's incident log;

     (b) Child protective services investigation documentation;

     (c) Residential program policies and procedures;

     (d) Residential facilities, cafeteria, nurse's station, and all other venues where residential students frequent;

     (e) Staff, student, and parent interviews; and

     (f) Review any corrective action plans including implementing the written plan of action to assure health and safety and prevention of abuse or neglect incidents.

     (2) The monitoring review may include, but is not limited to, the following:

     (a) Written personnel policies and procedures;

     (b) Personnel records including background check results; and

     (c) Job descriptions and history of personnel training.

[]

[]

[]

     (1) The students involved (not identified to the reviewers);

     (2) The date and time of the incident;

     (3) A description of what occurred, any injury and severity of injury;

     (4) Any other persons present at the time of the incident; and

     (5) Any action taken by WSD staff, including notification of the child's parents.

[]

     (2) A staffing ratio of 1:9 must be maintained for visiting and day students while they are in the residential settings.

[]

     (1) The grounds, office, living areas, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, shops, recreational areas, and laundry areas are clean and free of hazardous conditions.

     (2) Furnishings are clean, comfortable, durable, and safe.

     (3) Cleaning products and toxic chemicals are securely stored.

     (4) Medications are securely stored.

     (5) First-aid supplies are readily available.

     (6) Emergency lighting devises are available.

     (7) Kitchen and bathrooms are ventilated.

     (8) The facilities regularly conduct and document fire drills.

     (9) Smoke detectors are regularly inspected and the results of the inspections are documented.

     (10) Procedures for evacuation and other emergencies are posted, reviewed, and tested at regular intervals.

[]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office