Terre Logsdon – Record-Bee staff
LAKEPORT ? New testing and background check procedures may soon be in place to help protect people who receive in-home care.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Advisory Committee members unanimously agreed on Wednesday that the Board of Supervisors should draft an ordinance that would require all IHSS providers submit to a criminal background check, receive basic training and undergo randomized drug testing.
Board Chair Anthony Farrington, who along with District 1 Supervisor Ed Robey sits on the IHSS Advisory Committee Board, apologized to the members for his several-year absence from their meetings, but assured them that he was there yesterday to hear what they had to say.
“My vision is to help make [IHSS] a quality program,” Farrington told the committee members and guests in attendance, and “wages are just a component” of realizing that goal.
Farrington introduced the issue of requiring that all IHSS providers submit to a background check and randomized drug testing.
The results of those tests would be given to IHSS service recipients, allowing them to decide whether to hire or fire the provider. The county would have no recourse in that decision, a fact over which District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown expressed concern at the April 18 supervisors meeting.
But the committee members thought it was a good idea.
“My provider is a friend of a friend,” said one committee member, “so I didn”t feel comfortable asking her to get a background check.”
This ordinance, if approved, would alleviate recipients from having to request the check, but would still require the recipient to do the firing of the provider ? not the county.
Additionally, it would require that all providers undergo Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training and certification.
“I”ve talked with other counties,” Farrington said. “Some pay [providers] more for receiving a higher level of training,” which several committee members thought was a good idea.
Andy Rossoff of the Senior Law Project cautioned everyone “that the screenings aren”t an end-all,” and that recipients should still use discretion when hiring a provider. Farrington agreed.
The committee unanimously approved supporting the proposed ordinance.
Farrington and Robey will bring the ordinance, when drafted, back before the committee for approval.
Contact Terre Logsdon at tlogsdon@record-bee.com.
