Page 136
(9) The fifteen hour training requirement will be pro-rated for new caregivers based on the number of months worked during the license year. Months Worked During License Year Hours Required 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 12 11 13 12 15 (10) At all times at least one caregiver in each living space shall be certified in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation appropriate to the age of the population served. The training shall be from the American Red Cross or a program or trainer certified by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or the Health and Safety Institute. The certification shall be renewed in accordance with training guidelines. (11) If it is a facility’s policy to implement physical restraints, then all caregivers shall complete restraint training. New staff cannot participate in a restraint prior to completing the facility’s restraint training. N. Volunteers. (1) If volunteers are used as part of a group care facility’s program of services, the group care facility shall have written policies to screen, select and supervise volunteers. (2) Those volunteers who have opportunity for unsupervised contact with children shall be known as ‘‘volunteer staff’’ and shall supply a written application and have an interview with the staff who is responsible for the supervision of volunteers before volunteering. (a) Volunteer staff may be used to meet the staff-to-child ratio requirements if the volunteer meets the requirements specified for caregivers under regulation 114–591 (H), (I), (L), (M) and (K). (3) Volunteers shall be invited to participate in annual training required of other caregivers. (4) Individuals or groups who offer to provide a one time or occasional voluntary service (parties, trainings, entertainment, etc.) and do not have unsupervised access to children, are not required to undergo a full background screening by the group care facility. At least one facility caregiver shall supervise the interaction between such individuals or groups and the children. O. Record Storage and Retention. (1) The facility shall retain in a locked or secured area all children’s records for a minimum period of three years from the date the child is discharged from the program, and all staff records for a minimum period of three years from the date the staff separates employment. (a) If any litigation, claim, or other action involving the records have been initiated prior to the expiration of the three year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues that arise from it or until the end of the three year period, whichever is later. (b) A facility that no longer operates shall secure the records until the requirements above are met. (2) In accordance with the South Carolina Electronic Transactions Act (S.C. Code Ann. 26–6–10 et seq.), electronic records will be accepted assuming that the information is in a reasonably accessible format.