N.J. Admin. Code § 10:77-5.9

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 16, August 19, 2024

Section 10:77-5.9 - Staff requirements

(a) The individual(s) responsible for administrative oversight of the program shall have, at a minimum, a master's degree in social work or in a relevant discipline including, but not limited to, counseling, psychology or psychiatric nursing, and a minimum of three years of post-graduate experience in the delivery of mental health services to families and children. The administrative oversight duties and the clinical supervision described in (b) above may be provided by the same individual. At a minimum, administrative oversight responsibilities shall include:

1. The overall daily management of all facets of the program, including, but not limited to, the referral process, staffing, supervision of caseloads, case consultation and quality assurance;

2. Ensuring that all work hours are designed to meet the flexible needs of the families served and that access to services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days per week;

3. Ensuring clinical supervision of all appropriate service staff;

4. Ensuring that the individual(s) responsible for providing clinical supervision maintain a system of clinical recordkeeping and a monitoring system that includes, at a minimum, the provision for case reviews and a sign-off on progress notes;

5. Ensuring access to supervisory staff 24 hours a day, seven days per week; and

6. Ensuring that all information required or requested by the Department of Human Services or other authorized contract agent, including, but not limited to, Management Information Systems, Quality Assurance and system outcome data are provided in the manner required or requested.

(b) Clinical supervision shall be provided by a licensed mental health professional, who, within the scope of his or her practice, is licensed to provide or supervise the provision of service. The individual providing clinical supervision shall have, at a minimum, a master's degree in social work or other relevant human service field and applicable training, certification or experience if working with a specialized population. The clinical supervisor shall also have, at a minimum, one year of relevant experience in the provision of mental health services to children and families and experience in child welfare, children's mental health, special education or a related human services or behavioral health field working with children and families. Experience shall include crisis de-escalation and therapeutic intervention in home and off site with children and families.

(c) The individual(s) providing clinical supervision to individuals rendering intensive in-community mental health rehabilitation services shall have experience in delivering the services as designed, and, at a minimum, have the ability to:

1. Assess the risk to child and family, child and family mental health, understand family functioning, including child and adolescent development;

2. Develop, in partnership with the child and family, a treatment plan that effectively addresses the family's needs in a culturally sensitive manner;

3. Recognize family strengths, needs, environmental and family stresses, and help families identify and utilize these strengths to assist and design and implement strategies to resolve family issues or crises; and

4. Promote timely resolution of the presenting problems/behaviors and the development of an aftercare plan that includes referrals to other appropriate provider entities.

(d) All staff shall meet all training and licensure requirements for their practice specialty or profession as set forth by New Jersey statutes and rules.

(e) All staff members who may provide in-person services directly to beneficiaries shall successfully complete a fingerprint-based criminal history background check through the Department of Human Services' Office of Program Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) (see N.J.A.C. 10:77-5.15).

(f) All employees shall have a valid driver's license if his or her job functions include the operation of a vehicle used in the transportation of the children/youth or young adults, or their family or caregiver. Transportation is not considered a separately reimbursable intensive in-community service; however, if the provider is rendering other therapeutic interventions in the vehicle while operating the vehicle, the provider must have a valid driver's license.

1. Agencies shall provide the Children's System of Care (CSOC), within the Department of Children and Families (DCF), with an attestation of valid driver's licenses for all employees whose job responsibilities may require them to transport children/youth or young adults.

2. An agency shall complete an attestation of a valid driver's license for every employee whose job responsibilities may require them to transport children/youth or young adults and shall submit the attestation to the CSOC as part of a new provider application or change of staff request before the employee can provide services to children/youth or young adults.

i. The agency shall have a policy requiring all employees whose job responsibilities may require them to transport children/youth or young adults to provide proof of renewal of an expired license immediately upon renewal.

3. Agencies shall attest, annually, that those staff members required to have a valid driver's license pursuant to this subsection have a valid driver's license in their possession and that the license was physically reviewed and noted to have a future expiration date. Staff with license expiration dates within two months of the license examination date should present a copy of the renewed license upon renewal. Agencies shall provide the attestation by January 31 of each year using the required verification available on the DCF website. Completed forms shall be submitted electronically to the CSOC Office of Community Services, at IICprovider.Communications@dcf.nj.gov.

(g) Agencies, group practices, and other service providers providing behavioral assistance services shall adopt a policy requiring that any changes to an employee's driving or clinical license status be reported by the employee to the provider immediately.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:77-5.9

Amended by 55 N.J.R. 1292(a), effective 6/19/2023

Amended by 56 N.J.R. 483(a) effective 4/1/2024