N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-5.60

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 10:37-5.60 - Staff

(a) To adequately evaluate and meet the needs of clients, IPU programs shall have available a sufficient number of appropriate and qualified clinical, administrative, and support staff.

(b) A mental health professional from the disciplines of psychiatry, psychology, social work, or psychiatric nursing shall be designated as Director of the Program Element. If the Director is not a psychiatrist, he/she should have at least a Master's degree and several years of experience in direct service in mental health.

(c) A Board-certified or a Board-eligible psychiatrist shall work at least 10 hours per week in the Unit. Psychiatric time beyond 10 hours shall be related to the number of beds in the Unit and the number of minimum hours required per client per week. If the Director of the program is a psychiatrist, another psychiatrist shall be on-call in his/her absence for the direct medical and psychiatric supervision of all inpatients.

(d) In addition to the Director and medical/psychiatric coverage, other IPU staff shall include persons from a variety of disciplines, such as: psychology, social work, nursing, education (for children), rehabilitative counseling, and activities therapies. In addition, such other ancillary and paraprofessionals shall be utilized as appropriate.

(e) Persons with expertise in specialized areas such as addiction, battered women, rape and suicide prevention should be on staff or available as consultants.

(f) Qualified personnel shall be involved as staff, consultants, or affiliates, when indicated, in physical health services, speech, hearing, pharmacy, clinical testing, etc.

(g) The program shall have a written plan which delineates the number and qualifications of its clinical, administrative, and support personnel as determined by considering the following:

1. The size of the program;

2. The clinical characteristics of the client population;

3. The functional needs of the clients;

4. Other special characteristics of the program's clients, for example, age, substance abuse; and

5. All applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.

(h) When appropriate clinical staff members are not available or not needed on a full-time basis, arrangements shall be made to obtain sufficient back-up and supplementary services on an attending, continuing consultative, or part-time basis.

(i) IPU programs shall have on duty, at all times, a licensed or registered nurse to plan, assign, supervise and evaluate nursing care, and to assure that patients receive the nursing care required.

(j) Licensing and credentialing shall be in accordance with JCAH psychiatric inpatient program management. The IPU shall verify licensure and qualifications of all staff.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:37-5.60