Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 196 - Human Services Department
Chapter 2960 - LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION OF PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN
CERTIFICATION STANDARDS; RESIDENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE
Part 2960.0700 - STANDARDS FOR TREATMENT IN LOCKED SETTING

Subpart 1. Limitations on admissions; treatment in locked setting.

A residential mental health program offering treatment in a locked setting must address the use of a locked setting in its statement of intended use. Before accepting a resident for admission to a locked setting in a residential mental health program, the license holder must meet the criteria in items A and B.

Subp. 2. Prohibited placements.

The license holder must not admit a child for treatment in a locked setting as a disposition resulting from adjudication of an offense under the juvenile code without meeting the diagnostic assessment requirements of subpart 1, item A, nor transfer a resident from an unlocked part of a residential facility to a locked part of the same facility solely as a disciplinary measure for violating the rules of conduct of the treatment facility.

Subp. 3. Staff ratio.

During waking hours, the part of the facility providing treatment in a locked setting must provide at least a ratio of one treatment staff person to three residents. The staff-to-resident ratio for treatment in a locked facility does not apply during waking hours when residents are attending school out of that part of the facility. During sleeping hours, the part of the facility providing treatment in a locked setting must provide at least two treatment staff persons to nine residents. At least one of the two treatment staff persons required during sleeping hours must be awake and present in that part of the facility. If the required second staff person is not awake and present in the locked setting, the program must ensure that the second staff person is in the immediate vicinity and may be readily contacted either by telephone, radio, or alarm to come to the immediate assistance of the staff person in the locked part of the facility.

Subp. 4. Additional staff training.

In addition to the training required in part 2960.0660, staff providing treatment in a locked setting must have at least eight hours of additional training annually in subjects that will improve the staff's ability to deal with residents who present a risk of harm to themselves or others.

Subp. 5. Compliance with codes.

A facility must, prior to offering mental health treatment in a locked setting, comply with additional health, fire, or building code requirements that the commissioner of human services, state fire marshal, or Department of Health requires.

Subp. 6. Limitations on use of rooms for seclusion.

The license holder must ensure that the requirements of part 2960.0680 are met if a resident is locked in a room in the part of the facility offering mental health treatment in a locked setting.