Section 57.21. Staff to resident ratios and supervision.

 

(1)  In this section, "supervision" means guidance of the behavior and activities of a resident by a staff member who is within sight or sound of a resident to ensure the safety and well-being of the resident.

(2)  The staff-to-resident ratios of a group home shall be as follows:

(a) 1:5 during waking hours. A group home shall have at least one staff member awake and providing supervision for every 5 or fewer residents present in the group home during waking hours.

(b) 1:8 during sleeping hours. A group home shall have at least one staff member awake and providing supervision during sleeping hours.

(3)  The staff-to-resident ratios in sub. (2) and s. DCF 57.36 (5) are the minimal staffing requirements for resident care staff. The number of resident care staff on duty shall be increased as necessary to meet the needs of residents and to ensure their safety and welfare.

(4)  A volunteer may be used to meet the staff-to-resident ratio requirements in sub. (2) and s. DCF 57.36 (5) when 6 or more residents are in care if the volunteer meets the staff qualifications under s. DCF 57.14 (4) (c) .

(5)  No resident may be in the group home without supervision by a staff member.

(6)  A licensee shall ensure that supervision is provided for each resident appropriate to the resident's age, maturity, behavior, and developmental level and sufficient to ensure the safety of all residents in the group home.

(7)  A licensee shall ensure that sufficient staffing is available to provide supervision of a resident during suspensions and other extended absences from school.

CR 04-067 : cr. Register September 2005 No. 597 , eff. 1-1-06; correction in (1) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635 ; EmR1106 : emerg. r. and recr., eff. 9-16-11; CR 11-026 : r. and recr. Register December 2011 No. 672 , eff. 1-1-12.