Section R432-101-30 - Social Services(1)(a) The licensee shall provide social services to assist staff, patients, and patients' families to understand and cope with a patient's social, emotional, and related health problems.(b) The licensee shall ensure social services are under the direction of a licensed clinical social worker.(c) The social worker shall ensure the role and function of social services is listed in policy documents and meets generally accepted practices of the Mental Health Professional Practice Act.(d) The licensee shall ensure that social services personnel serve as a patient advocate to: (i) provide services to maximize each patient's ability to adjust to the social and emotional aspects of their situation, treatments, and continued stay in the hospital;(ii) participate in ongoing discharge planning to ensure continuity of care for the patient;(iii) initiate referrals to official agencies when the patient needs legal or financial assistance;(iv) act as liaison with the family or other responsible persons concerning the patient's placement and rights; and(v) preserve the dignity and rights of each patient.(2) Each licensee shall develop social services policies and procedures that include the following: (a) a system to identify, plan, and provide services according to the social and emotional needs of patients;(b) job descriptions, including title and qualifications of any person who provides social services; and(c) a method to refer patients to outside social services agencies when the hospital cannot resolve a patient's problems.(3) The social service director shall participate in any pertinent quality assurance activities of the hospital.Utah Admin. Code R432-101-30
Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2023-22, effective 11/1/2023