Section 79755 - Mental Health Treatment Program Staffing-Basic Requirements(a) Each mental health treatment program shall have a clinical director who shall be a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage, family, and child counselor, or a psychiatric mental health nurse operating within his or her scope of licensure. The clinical director shall have at least three years of direct clinical experience with the severely mentally disordered after completion of his or her last year of graduate education.(b) Only that portion of correctional treatment center staff or contracted employee hours spent on the care of patients in the mental health treatment program may be counted as part of the required staffing pattern.(c) The required minimum staffing ratios shall be calculated based upon the actual census of inmate-patients receiving 24-hour mental health care.(d) Mental health treatment program nursing services shall be provided under the direction of a registered nurse who shall meet at least the following qualifications: (1) Master's degree in psychiatric nursing or related field with experience in administration; or(2) Two years of experience in psychiatric nursing; or(3) Two years of experience in nursing administration or supervision and one year experience in psychiatric nursing.(e) A registered nurse with experience in psychiatric nursing shall be employed forty (40) hours per week.(f) There shall be a registered nurse, a licensed vocational nurse or a psychiatric technician in the mental health treatment area at all times.(g) In addition to the minimum staffing required above, the mental health treatment program shall employ professional and other staff on all shifts in the number and with the qualifications to provide all necessary services for those patients admitted for care.(h) Clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage, family, and child counselors shall be employed pursuant to the provisions of Section 5751.2, Welfare and Institutions Code.(i) Psychiatric postgraduate trainees, interns, residents, postdoctoral fellows or instructors may practice psychiatric medicine under the provisions of Section 2065 of the Business and Professions Code.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 79755
1. New section filed 6-10-94; operative 1-1-96 pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1250 (Register 94, No. 23). Note: Authority cited: Sections 208(a) and 1267.10(a), Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1250(j) and 1254, Health and Safety Code; Section 5751.2, Welfare and Institutions Code; and Section 2065, Business and Professions Code.
1. New section filed 6-10-94; operative 1-1-96 pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1250 (Register 94, No. 23).