Current through September 24, 2024
(1) General Qualifications.
The quality of services which is given in a maternity home is
dependent upon the quality of the staff. In the maternity home staff, the
mother shall find understanding, confidentiality, and objective help in facing
her immediate problems and in making constructive plans for herself and her
baby. Consequently, it is important for staff members to understand individual
behavior. This requires people who can accept the hostile, bitter, hurt clients
as well as those who are able to establish warm, friendly relationships. The
staff's attitudes, especially those related to unmarried parenthood, are as
important as such essential qualities as intelligence, good character,
maturity, judgment, personality, training, and experience.
(2) Agency employees shall be persons of good
character. They shall possess the health, emotional stability and ability
necessary to carry out their assigned duties.
(3) Screening; exclusions for certain crimes.
(a) Reserved.
(b) Any person (1) associated in providing
care or ancillary services in any manner within a child welfare program or (2)
who is a family member or other person residing in the agency, or (3) is a
person with unrestricted access to children in the agency as determined by the
Department of Children's Services, who is identified to the agency based on an
investigation of child abuse or child sexual abuse by the Department of
Children's Services as a validated or indicated perpetrator of such abuse of a
child or who is currently charged with, has been convicted or, or pled guilty
in any manner to a crime involving a child or who has pled guilty to any lesser
offense derived from an original offense involving a child, shall not be
employed or work as a caregiver or have access to or contact with children
within the program operated by a child welfare agency. An employee or volunteer
who has been identified by the department as having neglected a child based on
an investigation conducted by the department pursuant to a report of harm, and
who has not been criminally charged or convicted or pled guilty as stated
above, shall be supervised by another adult while providing care for
children.
(c) A person who is
currently charged with, has been convicted of, or has pled guilty in any manner
to a crime of violence against another person or has pled guilty to any lesser
offense derived from a crime of violence against another person, or any offense
involving the manufacture, sale, distribution, or possession of any drug shall
not work as a caregiver or have any contact or access to children within the
program operated by a child welfare agency.
(4) An agency shall obtain at least three (3)
references attesting to the character, integrity, and ability to perform tasks
required for the positions. One of these references must be from a former
employer.
(5) A report of a
physical examination completed within no more than six (6) months prior to hire
date shall be on file for all employees. The resident children of staff shall
also have on file an initial medical statement of good health or a physical
exam.
(6) Prospective Employees
(After effective date of the standards.)
The tuberculin skin test is recommended for initial screening
and should be done within ninety (90) days prior to employment. Prospective
employees who are known to have a positive tuberculin reaction or who refuse to
have a tuberculin test shall receive a chest x-ray and, if necessary, other
tests within ninety (90) days of employment. If infectious tuberculosis is
ruled out, no future certification is required during their employment unless
persistent pulmonary symptoms develop or there is contact to
tuberculosis.
(7) Current
Employees
(a) Current employees who have
already presented certification of a negative tuberculin skin test will require
no future certification during their employment, unless persistent pulmonary
symptoms develop or there is contact to tuberculosis.
(b) Current employees who are tuberculin
reactors and whose certification was based on a chest x-ray will require no
future certification during their employment unless persistent pulmonary
symptoms develop or there is contact to tuberculosis.
(8) Staff Records
(a) Records on all staff members and
information on applicants for jobs must be kept in a locked file at the agency.
They must include: an application, reports from three (3) references, one of
whom must be a former employer, a physical examination, when required,
including tuberculin test, a record of participation in orientation and
training activities, a record of positions held by the person during employment
at the agency, record of leave, and date and reason for termination.
(b) In addition to the above, copies of an
annual evaluation of the quality of work done by the person while in the agency
must be kept in his personnel record. These evaluations must be prepared by the
administrator, assistant to the administrator or by the person directly
responsible for the supervision of the employee. If not conducted by the
administrator, it must be approved by the administrator.
(c) Staff shall have access to their
personnel records as afforded to them by law.
(9) Staff Development
(a) Agencies must provide new staff with an
orientation program that thoroughly acquaints the new employee with agency
philosophy, policies, and procedures specifically including confidentiality
procedures. This program must be under the supervision of qualified staff and
appropriate to the position being assumed by the new employee.
(b) A program of in-service training must be
developed which provides staff with a minimum of six (6) hours in-service
training annually. Attendance at conferences and workshops may be included as
part of the six (6) hours minimum requirement.
(c) Participation in these activities must be
documented in personnel files.
(10) The Executive Director or Administrator
(a) The executive director or administrator
must be selected and appointed by the Governing Board and be accountable to the
board for satisfactory performance of duties.
(b) The executive of a maternity home shall
be a college graduate with at least two (2) years administrative or supervisory
experience.
(c) If the executive
director or administrator is responsible for technical supervision of casework
staff, he or she shall meet the qualifications for casework
supervisor.
(d) The executive
director or administrator must be responsible for:
1. Attending board meetings and participating
in all planning for the agency.
2.
Seeing that the agency keeps accurate statistical reports that give the
complete scope of the work of the agency.
3. Seeing that monthly and annual reports on
forms furnished by the Tennessee Department of Children's Services are
submitted, as well as any special reports that may be required from time to
time.
4. Preparing the agency's
budget in cooperation with the board and operating the agency within the budget
approved by the board.
5.
Selecting, employing, training, and discharging all staff and supervising the
daily management of the agency if another person has not been delegated the
responsibility.
6. Communicating to
the board information on the operation of the agency, unmet needs, and modern
methods regarding child care services.
7. Implementing the policies of the board and
bringing to the board's attention areas which require modification or change,
and interpreting the agency's program to the community and giving professional
leadership to the board in doing this job.
8. Maintaining adequate records on the
administrative and fiscal operation of the agency.
9. The executive director or administrator
must hold staff meetings at regular intervals and discuss plans and policies
with his staff. He/She must secure adequate clerical staff to keep
correspondence, records, bookkeeping, and files current and in good
order.
(11)
Casework Director or Supervisor
(a) The
casework supervisor or director shall be a graduate of an accredited graduate
school of social work or related field. He/She must have a minimum of two (2)
years of experience in a social service related agency and must have
demonstrated supervisory ability.
(b) Each caseworker shall receive
supervision, and there must be a supervisor for every five (5)
caseworkers.
(c) If the executive
is qualified as a casework supervisor, then no more than three (3) workers
shall constitute a maximum supervisory load.
(d) Casework supervision can be provided by
the agency itself or by entering into written agreements and/or contracts with
qualified individuals, and/or public or private agencies qualified to provide
such services.
(12)
Caseworker
(a) The caseworker must be a
graduate of an accredited four (4) year college or university with a major in
social work or a related field such as psychology or sociology.
(b) If only one caseworker is employed, the
qualifications for a casework supervisor shall be met.
(c) There may be agencies which are in the
developmental stage or which limit their services to few residents. When it is
not feasible for such an agency to employ full-time casework staff, provision
for part-time casework staff shall be made in the following manner. There shall
be ten (10) hours per week of casework services for each increment of eight (8)
residents served. There shall be specific provision for weekly office hours and
for emergencies. Part-time staff shall meet the qualifications for full-time
staff.
(d) It is the responsibility
of the caseworker to carry out the responsibilities set forth in the Agency
Services section.
(13)
Resident Staff
(a) It shall be the role of the
resident staff to provide supervision of day-to-day activities of the
home.
(b) The resident staff shall
work under a trained supervisor.
(c) The resident staff shall have at least a
high school diploma or its equivalent (GED). Tasks shall be assigned
appropriate to their competence.
(d) Relief for Staff
1. Relief for resident care staff shall be
arranged to provide continuity of supervision for the residents.
2. Every full-time staff member shall have
the equivalent of at least two days off each week.
(14) Clerical Staff
(a) Each maternity home shall have at least
one (1) part-time clerical person on its staff.
(b) There shall be sufficient stenographic
and clerical service to keep correspondence, records, bookkeeping system and
files current and in good order.
(15) Housekeeping Staff
Housekeeping staff shall be employed as needed for cleaning
and maintenance.
(16)
Staff-Resident Ratio
There shall be minimum of two (2) -staff persons on duty at
all-times with provisions made for emergencies.
(17) Volunteers
(a) For purposes of these standards a
volunteer shall be considered to be any person providing assistance to the
agency without remittance who has direct, and ongoing contact with the
residents. Volunteers shall have the same qualifications as paid staff
performing comparable duties.
(b)
If any volunteers are used, a process of application and screening shall be
established in the agency to ensure that volunteers are of such character and
competence as to meet the agency's needs.
(c) A program of ongoing training and
orientation to the philosophies and practices of the agency shall be provided
each volunteer within the agency.
(d) Adequate supervision of volunteers shall
be provided by paid staff.
(e) An
individual file including the application to participate as a volunteer, three
letters of reference, and a declaration of good health shall be maintained by
the agency on each volunteer. The files must document participation in child
sexual abuse training.
Authority: T.C.A. §§
4-5-226(b)(2);37-1-403;
37-1-605; 37-1-612; 37-1-616; 37-5-101; 37-5-105; 37-5-106;37-5-112(a);
71-1-105; 71-3-501 through 71-3-531 and 17-1-603.
