Current through September 24, 2024
1. Facility shall have written policies and
procedures in accordance with the following principles for the use of
isolation:
a. Staff only use isolation if a
youth's behavior threatens imminent harm to self or others or serious
destruction of property.
b. Prior
to using isolation, staff shall utilize less restrictive techniques, including
de-escalation tactics.
c. Prior to
using isolation, staff explain to the youth in the youth's primary language the
reasons for the isolation, and the fact that he or she will be released upon
regaining self-control.
d. Staff
only keep youth in isolation for the amount of time necessary for the youth to
regain self-control and no longer pose a threat. As soon as the youth's
behavior ceases to threaten imminent harm to self or others or serious
destruction of property, staff release the youth back to programming.
e. Staff notify the unit
supervisor as soon as a youth is placed in isolation.
f. Youth are not kept in isolation for longer
than one hour without explicit approval of the unit supervisor.
g. During the time that a youth is in
isolation, staff provide one-on-one crisis intervention and observation at
least every 15 minutes.
h. If a
youth is in isolation for longer than one hour, a qualified mental health
professional (QMHP) shall be notified and consulted as whether a crisis
intervention plan is necessary.
i.
Staff may not hold a youth in isolation for longer than four hours. If a QMHP
determines that a youth needs to be in isolation for longer than four hours,
staff arrange transportation for the youth to an appropriate health facility.
j. If at any time during
isolation, the level of crisis service needed is not available in the current
environment, the youth shall be transported to a location where those services
can be obtained (e.g., medical unit of the facility, hospital).
k. Youth in isolation have reasonable access
to food, water, toilet facilities, and hygiene supplies.
2. Staff shall keep designated isolation
rooms clean, appropriately ventilated, and at comfortable temperatures.
3. Designated isolation rooms
shall be suicide-resistant and protrusion-free.
4. Staff document all incidents in which a
youth is place in isolation, including:
a.
Name of the youth.
b. Date and time
the youth was placed in isolation.
c. Name and position of the person
authorizing placement of the youth in isolation.
d. Persons involved in the incident and other
witnesses.
e. Date and time the
youth was released from isolation.
f. Description of the circumstances leading
to the use of isolation.
g. The
alternative actions attempted and found unsuccessful, or reason alternatives
were not possible.
h. Referrals and
contacts with medical and mental health professionals, including the date,
time, and person contacted.
5. The facility administrator or his/her
designee regularly reviews the use of isolation and maintain copies of reports
on all incidents in which youth are placed in isolation for a period of one
year. After a year all records are preserved and maintained pursuant to state
laws and regulations.
6. The
facility administrator or his/her designee, in conjunction with mental health
staff, reviews all uses of isolation to identify departures from policy and
provides feedback to staff on effective crisis management. [See also Rule
1.25(D), Supervision of Staff.]
Miss. Code Ann.
§§
43-21-901
to
43-21-915
(Rev. 2016).
