Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 73427 - Special Subacute Psychiatric Program Services-Staffing

(a) At the time of program approval, the facility shall have employed a program director who has been approved by the Department. The program director shall be on duty at least 40 hours per week and shall have the responsibility for the supervision and coordination of the special program staff and implementation of the in-service training program. The program director shall not be the supervisor of health services, charge nurse or facility administrator.

(b) The program director shall be either a social worker, an occupational therapist, a psychologist, a physician, a psychiatric technician, a registered nurse, an art therapist, a dance therapist, a music therapist, a recreation therapist or a member of another profession approved by the Department. The program director shall have the following minimum qualifications:

(1) At least two years' experience or training in a mental health setting, and

(2) At least one year of experience or training in program development for the mentally disordered.

(c) Interdisciplinary Professional Staff. In addition to the requirement for a program director, the facility shall provide, either through direct employment or on a contractual arrangement, an interdisciplinary professional staff to develop and implement special rehabilitation programs and to provide specific expertise to the program staff and/or provide direct patient services.

(1) The interdisciplinary professional staff shall be composed of at least two of the following disciplines:

(A) Psychologist

(B) Social worker

(C) Occupational therapist

(D) Recreation therapist

(E) Art therapist

(F) Music therapist

(G) Dance therapist

(H) Any other related discipline approved by the Department.

(2) Each member of the interdisciplinary professional staff shall have a minimum of one year of experience or training in a mental health setting.

(3) A facility which implements a subacute psychiatric program shall provide interdisciplinary professional staff in accordance with the following schedule:

(A) For facilities having an average of 49 or fewer certified patients per week, 48 hours per week of interdisciplinary professional staff time are required.

(B) For facilities having an average of between 50-69 certified patients per week, 64 hours per week of professional staff time are required.

(C) For facilities having an average of between 70-99 certified patients per week, 96 hours per week of professional staff time are required.

(D) For facilities having an average of more than 100 certified patients per week, 144 hours per week of professional staff time are required.

(d) Program Staff. The facility shall provide a minimum of one hour of direct program staff for each six patient hours of special subacute program services provided. Program staff shall include all persons who directly provide program services to the mentally disordered and shall not include the program director.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 73427