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Audit: Checks missing on aides for intellectually disabled

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam speaks at a press conference at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, about a federal judge dismissing a longstanding lawsuit over the state's treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To his right are Commissioner Debra K. Payne and Assistant Commissioner Jordan Allen of the state Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam speaks at a press conference at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, about a federal judge dismissing a longstanding lawsuit over the state's treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To his right are Commissioner Debra K. Payne and Assistant Commissioner Jordan Allen of the state Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig) Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam speaks at a press conference at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, about a federal judge dismissing a longstanding lawsuit over the state's treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To his right are Commissioner Debra K. Payne and Assistant Commissioner Jordan Allen of the state Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

By Associated Press 3 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities failed to complete some required background checks on caregivers, according to a state audit released Wednesday.

The comptroller’s audit sampled 60 of 178 employees hired from June 2013 through June 2016 who directly care for intellectually disabled people, helping them bathe, use the bathroom, eat, take medicine and perform other tasks.

The department said it has started obtaining the missing background checks, and one regional office has been checking the registries, just not documenting it. Department spokeswoman Cara Kumari said none of the employees had a background that would have excluded them from employment.

The missing checks include 16 sex offender searches; 11 for Tennessee’s abuse registry; 19 for felony offenses; 25 for exclusions from federally funded health care programs; and 11 for abuse, neglect and exploitation.

“The department has a duty to ensure that it hires only suitable applicants to provide care for individuals enrolled in its services,” auditors wrote. “By not following state law or internal policy, the department potentially jeopardizes the safety of this vulnerable population.”