The guidelines stipulate that the administrator or on-site manager should be responsible for ensuring that any person working in the facility as an employee receives work-related training acceptable to the Ministry of Health and Wellness within the first sixty days of employment. Such training shall at a minimum include the following:

1. Current certification in emergency first aid except where the staff person is a currently licensed health care professional;
2. Emergency evacuation procedures;
3. Medical and social needs and characteristic of the resident population;
4. Resident’s rights.

At least one staff person who has completed the certification in emergency first aid must be present in the home at all times. All kitchen staff and all staff attending to the physical needs of residents in the home should possess valid food handlers’ permits. All persons, including the administrator or on-site manager, who offers direct care to the residents, should be responsible for maintaining awareness for each resident’s normal appearance and should be capable of intervening if a resident’s state of health appears to be in jeopardy. The administrator, on-site manager, and each employee should have received a physical examination by a licensed physician four weeks before employment to ensure that the employee is free of disease communicable within the scope of employment and is physically qualified to work. A licensed physician should conduct follow-up examinations on each administrator or staff person to determine readiness to return to work following a significant illness or injury.

An active in-service nursing education program should be in effect for all nursing personnel. This program should be developed and conducted by a health care professional.