4740-4748
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
SECTION 4740-4748
4740. The Legislature finds the following: (a) The quality of care provided to persons with developmental disabilities by residential facilities is contingent upon a closely coordinated "team" effort by the regional center or its designee, the person with developmental disabilities, the parent or representative if appropriate, the residential facility administrator, and the licensing agency. The rights and responsibilities of each must be identified in order to assure clear direction and accountability for each. (b) The quality of care is impaired when inordinate numbers of staff from placement and licensing agencies give direction to the facility administrator regarding care and service requirements. 4741. An adult person with a developmental disability has the legal right to determine where his or her residence will be. Except in a situation which presents immediate danger to the health and well-being of the individual, the regional center or its designee shall not remove a consumer from a residential care facility against the client's wishes unless there has been specific court action to abridge such right with respect to an adult or unless the parent, guardian or conservator consents with respect to a child. 4742. The regional center or its designated representative shall (a) guide and counsel facility staff regarding the care and services and supports required by each consumer served by the regional center; and (b) monitor the care and services and supports provided the individual to ensure that care and services and supports are provided in accordance with the individual program plan. 4742.1. (a) A statement made by a regional center representative when discharging his or her obligation to monitor the provision of services and supports pursuant to this division shall be a privileged communication, subject to subdivision (b). (b) A statement shall not be privileged pursuant to subdivision (a) if a party to a judicial action demonstrates that the regional center representative made the disputed statement with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. 4743. It is the intent of the Legislature that to the greatest extent possible, the staff of the regional center or its designee are assigned so as to minimize the number of persons responsible for programs provided in a given facility. The regional center or its designee shall designate the staff person responsible for assuring that each individual consumer's program plan is carried out. One person shall be assigned by the regional center as the principal liaison to a facility and to monitor the provision of care and the services provided by that facility in accordance with the individual program plans. If, due to the number of regional center consumers in the facility, additional staff of a regional center or its designee serve consumers in the facility, one person shall be assigned as having primary responsibility for, and assure consistency and continuity of, directions to the administrator and for the monitoring of care and services. 4744. The regional center or its designee shall provide to the residential facility administrator all information in its possession concerning any history of dangerous propensity of the consumer prior to the placement in that facility. However, no confidential consumer information shall be released pursuant to this section without the consent of the consumer or authorized representative. 4745. During each visit to the facility, the designated staff person shall inform the administrator orally of any substantial inadequacies in the care and services provided, the specific corrective action necessary and the date by which corrective action must be completed. The designated staff person shall confirm this information in writing to the administrator within 48 hours after the oral notice and inform the administrator in writing of the right to appeal the findings. 4746. The severity of the deficiencies and the quality of care provided shall determine how long the regional center or its designee will work with the facility administrator to resolve inadequacies. After a reasonable period of time, if the care continues to be unacceptable, the designated staff person shall submit to his or her supervisor and to the licensing agency and administrator a recommended disposition with supporting documents attached. The placement agency shall develop sufficient documentation of inadequacies and care provided to sustain corrective action. 4747. If a consumer or, when appropriate, the parent, guardian, or conservator or authorized representative, including those appointed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 4548 or subdivision (e) of Section 4705, requests a relocation, the regional center shall schedule an individual program plan meeting, as soon as possible to assist in locating and moving to another residence. 4748. Within nine months of the effective date of this section, the State Department of Developmental Services shall develop and implement regulations for use by the regional center or its designee to assure uniformity of the care and services to be provided to persons registered with the regional centers who reside in residential facilities.