Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a) The goal of
community placement shall be to provide the most independent residential
accommodation which is also physically safe and convenient and appropriate to
the needs of the patient.
(1) The facility, in
cooperation with county departments of social services and community mental
hygiene services and other public and private community agencies or individuals
shall take all necessary steps to obtain an adequate supply of safe, convenient
and appropriate housing for patients to be discharged or conditionally
released.
(2) In some cases, this
goal can be met by organization and arrangement of physical facilities and
property of the facility when appropriate placement resources in the community
are inadequate.
(b) The
placement of choice for many patients is in the home with the family which
preceded inpatient service. It is recognized that for some patients such a
situation never existed, for others no longer exists, and for still others
would not be appropriate to the needs of the patient. In these instances, other
placements may be appropriate under the following conditions:
(1) If the place of residence is subject to
licensure, certification or approval by the Department of Mental Hygiene or
other State agency such place of residence shall be currently and validly
licensed, certified or approved.
(2) If groups of patients are placed in homes
or apartments with no full-time on-site supervision by staff of a provider of
services, the placing facility shall consult appropriate local agencies to
determine that the building complies with local zoning, building, fire, and
safety codes, ordinances and regulations.
(3) If a patient is placed alone in a home,
apartment, or room the placing facility shall take care that he is capable of
daily living without assistance. This care shall include but not be limited to
regular and frequent visits to the patient by facility staff or staff of
cooperating agencies to review adjustment during the initial period of
community placement.
(c)
The individual service plan of each patient to be placed in the community shall
include plans for placement and placement shall be made in accordance with such
plans. Such planning shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) review of the patient's physical,
psychiatric, social and vocational conditions, disabilities and strengths, with
particular attention to those related to his or her placement
potential;
(2) services to overcome
disabilities and capitalize on strengths to enable the least restrictive
community placement possible;
(3)
consideration of post-release supervision of the patient in the placement
residence in addition to the plan for outpatient services to overcome mental
disability;
(4) evidence of the
patient's participation and that of the patient's family and friends, when
appropriate, in the establishment of the placement plan and selection of the
placement residence; and
(5)
evidence of participation by staff of other agencies in the establishment of
the placement plan, the plan for outpatient services and the means of assuring
continuity of care, if services and supervision are to be provided by another
agency in whole or in part.
