California Code of Regulations
Title 22 - Social Security
Division 5 - Licensing and Certification of Health Facilities, Home Health Agencies, Clinics, and Referral Agencies
Chapter 4 - Intermediate Care Facilities
Article 3 - Services
Section 73435 - Special Program Requirements-Staffing

Universal Citation: 22 CA Code of Regs 73435

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(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. The program director 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, a charge nurse or the administrator of the facility.

(1) The program director shall be either a physician, a clinical or educational psychologist, a social worker, a special education teacher, a psychiatric technician, art therapist, dance therapist, music therapist or a member of another related profession approved by the Department.

(2) The program director shall have the following qualifications:
(A) At least two years of experience or training in the care of the developmentally disabled.

(B) At least one year of experience or training in program development for the developmentally disabled.

(b) In addition to the program director, the facility shall provide either through direct employment or on a contractual arrangement, an interdisciplinary professional staff to develop and implement special programs and to provide specific expertise to the program staff.

(1) The interdisciplinary professional staff shall be composed of at least one person from any three of the following disciplines:
(A) Clinical or educational psychologist.

(B) Recreation therapist.

(C) Occupational therapist.

(D) Physical therapist.

(E) Social worker.

(F) Speech pathologist.

(G) Special education teacher.

(H) Art therapist.

(I) Dance therapist.

(J) Music therapist.

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

(2) A facility with 49 or fewer eligible patients, which is approved to provide special program services, shall provide a minimum of 24 hours weekly of professional staff time.

(3) A facility with 50 to 69 eligible patients, which is approved to provide special program services, shall provide a minimum of 32 hours weekly of professional staff time.

(4) A facility with 70 to 99 eligible patients, which is approved to provide special program services, shall provide a minimum of 48 hours weekly of professional staff time.

(5) A facility with 100 or more eligible patients, which is approved to provide special program services, shall provide a minimum of 72 hours weekly of professional staff time.

(c) The facility shall provide a direct patient/staff program ratio of at least one staff member, with direct patient contact excluding the program director, for each five patients during all program hours.

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