New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
He - Department of Health and Human Services
Subtitle He-C - Commissioner, Department of Health and Human Services
Chapter He-C 6400 - PROGRAM AND SERVICE INFORMATION
Part He-C 6448 - CHILD-PLACING AGENCY LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
Section He-C 6448.07 - Operational Requirements

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules He-C 6448.07

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) The child-placing agency shall maintain and make available upon the request of DCYF, all case records, personnel files, and other agency records as agreed upon by the agency and DCYF.

(b) The child-placing agency shall maintain a personnel file for each employee that includes:

(1) The application for employment, including record of previous employment;

(2) A copy of each educational degree and applicable credential or certification;

(3) A minimum of 5 written references;

(4) The results of criminal and central registry checks;

(5) Staff development attendance; and

(6) Annual performance evaluations.

(c) The child-placing agency shall not hire or continue to employ a person whose health, veracity, education, work history, or behavior and actions impair her or his ability to protect the health and safety of the children served as determined by:

(1) Completion of a child abuse registry check with DCYF prior to the employment start date of new staff members;

(2) Verification of the applicant's addresses for the past 5 years;

(3) Review of criminal, central registry, and motor vehicle checks from all states in which the applicant has resided during the 5 years prior to the start of employment;

(4) Evaluation of any arrest, criminal conviction, and motor vehicle checks of an employee for its impact on employment and on the care and safety of children;

(5) Verification of the applicant's qualifications through at least 5 written references; and

(6) Review of a signed medical statement that the employee can perform the job.

(d) All staff shall maintain confidentiality of information concerning clients and their records, such as securing files, and refraining from discussing or disclosing information without authorization or written consent pursuant to RSA 170-E:34(c) .

(e) Staff members shall be certified or licensed, if required by law.

(f) The child-placing agency shall maintain correspondence, records, bookkeeping, and files up-to-date and easily retrievable.

(g) The child-placing agency shall maintain a roster of members of its staff listing position, title, and qualifications and a current organizational chart showing administrative structure and staffing, including lines of authority.

(h) A child-placing agency that uses volunteers to work directly with children and families shall:

(1) Have written job descriptions;

(2) Require 3 personal references;

(3) Designate a staff member to supervise and evaluate volunteers;

(4) Develop and implement a written plan for the orientation and training of volunteers in the philosophy of the child-placing agency;

(5) Require all volunteers to maintain strict confidentiality concerning clients and records; and

(6) Complete criminal and central registry checks pursuant to RSA 170-E:29- a for each volunteer who has regular contact with children prior to the volunteer entering service for the child-placing agency.

(i) The child-placing agency shall have written procedures for handling suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect involving staff, foster or adoptive parents, or volunteers that include:

(1) A provision for recording a suspected incident and for promptly reporting it to the agency's director or to the governing body or advisory board;

(2) A provision for reporting an allegation of abuse or neglect as described in RSA 169-C:29;

(3) A provision for preventing a recurrence of the alleged incident pending investigation; and

(4) A provision for notifying the department of any findings of an investigation of abuse or neglect.

(j) A child-placing agency shall establish operational policies and procedures so staff are informed of current adoption and foster care agency practices and staff can provide services consistently to clients.

(k) A child-placing agency shall have a written on-going program of staff development or provide staff the opportunity to attend training outside of the agency.

#7866, eff 4-2-03; ss by #9895, eff 4-2-11

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