N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37F-2.10

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 10:37F-2.10 - Staffing

(a) The PA shall be sufficiently staffed with personnel, who are licensed, when required, appropriately credentialed, culturally competent and sufficiently trained to provide PC services as set forth in this chapter. Staff may be engaged on a full time, part time or consulting basis, provided that services are adequate to meet the program needs of participating consumers.

(b) The PA shall, at a minimum, employ the following staff titles with the following responsibilities:

1. The program director shall:

i. Have primary responsibility for program operation, development and management;

ii. Be available for crisis consultation and management and for coordination with outside practitioners; and

iii. Possess a master's degree in a human service field and five years experience in mental health services, with two years supervisory experience or possess a professional credential, such as: licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, licensed associate counselor, licensed rehabilitation counselor, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, licensed psychologist, advanced practice nurse or master of science in nursing with the requisite number of years of experience.

2. The medical director or supervising psychiatrist shall:

i. Be a physician licensed to practice in the State of New Jersey and board certified or eligible in general psychiatry;

ii. Provide needed medical input into the development of the program;

iii. Be directly affiliated with the program;

iv. Assume professional responsibility for the treatment and services provided and assure that the treatment and services are medically appropriate;

v. Supervise the treatment provided to each consumer;

vi. Provide input into treatment and service plans;

vii. Provide initial psychiatric assessment and ongoing psychiatric review at least two times per year;

viii. Provide consultation to program staff on an ongoing basis;

ix. Be available and provide inservice training to program staff; and

x. Assure that all psychiatric and medical services that are provided by the program, meet accepted standards of medical practice.

3. The direct care on-site staff supervisor shall:

i. Have primary responsibility for supervision of direct care staff; and

ii. Possess a master's degree in a mental health, rehabilitation or human services field, or a bachelor's degree and a minimum of two years experience in providing mental health services; or possess a relevant professional credential, such as: licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, licensed associate counselor, licensed rehabilitation counselor, licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor, licensed psychologist, or master of science in nursing.

4. The primary case coordinator or counselor shall:

i. Have primary responsibility for service coordination, provision or arrangement of services needed, personal advocacy, and development, review and updating of individual treatment and service plans; and

ii. Possess a bachelor's degree in a human services field, or an associate's degree and two years experience in providing human services, or five years of human service experience, or possess a relevant professional credential, such as Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner, bachelor's degree in social work, certified rehabilitation counselor, certified alcohol and drug counselor, bachelor's degree in rehabilitation, or bachelor of science in nursing.

5. The mental health services worker shall:

i. Have primary responsibility for the provision and coordination of program services; and

ii. Possess a bachelor's degree or associate degree in psychosocial rehabilitation or mental health services, or possess related life or work experience, such as assuming leadership roles during participation in mental health services or mental health consumer initiatives, or possess one of the following credentials: Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner or Community Mental Health Associate.

(c) Each PA shall designate staff to take primary responsibility for providing pre-vocational and integrated treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders services. Such designated staff members shall possess the qualifications for the primary case coordinator or counselor position and shall have training and experience in providing the specialized service.

1. Qualifications for the primary staff providing pre-vocational services must include one year's experience in providing services such as supported employment or job coaching, vocational evaluation, welfare to work, community rehabilitation services, transitional employment, other work experience programs for consumers and recent relevant training or possess one of the following: certified rehabilitation counselor, licensed rehabilitation counselor, master's or bachelor's degree in rehabilitation counseling, Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner, or vocational instructor as defined by the New Jersey State Board of Education.

i. Qualified staff shall maintain their knowledge and expertise by continuing to receive recent, relevant training and continuing education.

ii. Staff who provided pre-vocational services prior to November 6, 2006, but who did not have one year of experience as of that date, shall be permitted to remain in their positions, but are required to attend the training and continuing education referenced in 10:37F-2.10(c)1 i.

iii. Staff who are either hired or who are moved into pre-vocational service positions shall fulfill the one-year experience requirement.

2. Qualifications for the primary staff providing integrated treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder services must follow the requirements as set forth by the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee of the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners.

(d) The PA may employ students and volunteers, in addition to required staff as set forth in this chapter.

(e) The PA shall make continuing education available in order to ensure that staff has the competencies necessary to deliver the core program areas.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37F-2.10

Recodified from N.J.A.C. 10:37F-2.8 and amended by R.2006 d.389, effective 11/6/2006.
See: 38 N.J.R. 1990(a), 38 N.J.R. 4694(b).
Rewrote (a), (b)1iii, (b)2i, (b)3ii, (b)4ii, (b)5ii and (c); in (b)2v, substituted "consumer" for "client"; in (b)3, inserted "on-site"; and added (e).