Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Social work services are those services that assist staff, patients, and patients' families to understand and cope with the patient's personal, emotional, and related health and environmental problems.
(b) An unlicensed social worker shall only provide those social work services for which no license is required under Business and Professions Code section 4996.
(c) A social work service unit shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Within five days after admission, each patient shall be interviewed and a social work assessment completed. When indicated, a social work treatment plan reviewed and approved by the social worker shall be carried out, as appropriate, by the social worker, social work assistant, or social work aide.
(2) The social worker, social work assistant, or social work aide shall develop a plan, including goals and treatment, for social work services for each patient who needs them, with participation of the patient, the family, the patient's licensed healthcare practitioner acting within the scope of his or her professional licensure, the supervisor of health services, and other appropriate staff.
(3) Signed and dated progress reports shall be written at least monthly in the health record of each patient receiving social services, by the social worker, social work assistant, or social work aide.
(4) The social worker, social work assistant, or social work aide shall participate in regular staff conferences with the attending licensed healthcare practitioner acting within the scope of his or her professional licensure, the director of nursing service, and other appropriate personnel.
(5) There shall be discharge planning and implementation through liaison with local health and welfare agencies, other community personnel, and the patient's family or authorized representative.
(6) Orientation and in-service training of other staff members on all shifts shall be conducted at least monthly by the social worker in charge of the social work service, to assist in the recognition and understanding of the emotional problems and social needs of patients and families, and to learn how to implement appropriate action to meet such identified needs. Orientation and training shall include informing the staff about available community resources and services.
1. Amendment of subsections (b)(1) and (b)(4) and new NOTE filed 3-3-2010; operative 4-2-2010 (Register 2010, No. 10).
2. Amendment filed 2-19-2020; operative 4-1-2020 (Register 2020, No. 8).
Note: Authority cited: Sections 1275, 100275 and 131200, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 1276, 1316.5, 131050, 131051 and 131052, Health and Safety Code.
