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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 43.43.830–.845 — 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.