Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) The Department-approved State of Florida
Child Welfare Pre-Service Training Program curriculum is primarily comprised of
classroom instruction, but may also include on-line learning and
agency-specific field activities. Department approval shall be based on whether
the curriculum meets the standards set forth in Section
402.40(5),
F.S.
(2) The pre-service classroom
instruction involves the delivery and facilitation of curricula by a child
welfare trainer in the classroom.
(a) At the
discretion of the training entity, some pre-service classes may include guest
speakers as subject matter experts regarding relevant topics; however, although
agency or area-specific information may be added to the curriculum, nothing in
the existing, Department-approved curriculum may be deleted or
revised.
(b) With the exception of
interns as referenced in subsection
65C-33.003(6),
F.A.C., a training entity or employing agency may arrange for non-employed
individuals to participate in pre-service classroom instruction; however, these
individuals shall not be administered the waiver test or post-test.
(c) Pre-service classroom instruction may be
observed by individuals involved in the administration, delivery, design, or
oversight of pre-service training for purposes of assessing the effectiveness
of training delivery, or evaluating the need for enhancement of curriculum
design.
1. Advanced notice of the observation
may be provided, but is not required.
2. No more than two (2) individuals shall
observe the same class session at the same time, and the observer(s) shall
neither disrupt the class nor interact with the trainer(s) or class
participants at any time while the class is in
session.
(3)
There is a 100% mandatory attendance requirement for all pre-service classroom
instruction, absent special circumstances documented and accommodated by the
employing agency or the training entity.
(a)
It is the responsibility of the employing agency to ensure that each trainee
attends and completes all of the pre-service classroom, on-line and field
instruction required for his or her position classification.
(b) Any missed training classes, modules or
material must be completed by the trainee prior to the trainee taking the
post-test.
(4) Field
Activities.
(a) If field activities are
provided to trainees during the pre-service training, the employing agency
shall ensure the activities are supervised and reviewed by certified Child
Welfare Professionals.
(b) At the
discretion of the supervisor, field activities may include opportunities for
the trainee to shadow or be mentored by experienced certified staff, and may
take place in the agency unit or in the field, as long as the trainee is
accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a certified Child Welfare
Professional at all times.
(5)
(a)
Under no circumstances shall a trainee carry a caseload, be assigned
responsibility for any cases, conduct unaccompanied or unsupervised home
visits, perform unsupervised home studies or interviews of children or adults,
be ultimately responsible for any assessment of risk, or otherwise have primary
responsibility for any investigation, child, family or case, until he or she
successfully completes the pre-service training and passes the
post-test.
(b) In order to meet
each trainee's need for a variety of opportunities in the practical application
of concepts learned in pre-service training, a trainee may be assigned as a
secondary worker in the FSFN or other Department-approved system to no more
than four (4) active cases during his or her pre-service training, for the sole
purpose of performing and practicing newly-learned skills while accompanied and
supervised at all times by a certified Child Welfare Professional. Although
assigned as a secondary worker, the trainee shall not bear ultimate
responsibility for any aspect of the case. Every piece of casework completed by
the trainee shall be reviewed and approved by either the primary worker on the
case, the supervisor of the primary worker on the case or other certified Child
Welfare Professional, prior to the piece of casework being included and saved
in the active case file or FSFN case record.
(6) Interns. Interns may be utilized to
assist child welfare staff in the performance of their job duties. Interns are
permitted to seek certification and are subject to the same restrictions and
requirements as employees.
Rulemaking Authority
402.40 FS. Law Implemented
402.40
FS.
New 10-14-10, Amended
12-24-15.
