Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Children and Families
DCF 021-99 - Safety and Permanence
Chapter DCF 54 - Child-Placing Agencies
Section DCF 54.03 - Personnel administration

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง DCF 54.03

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) PERSONNEL POLICIES. Each agency shall have a written statement of personnel practices adopted by the board. The board shall review personnel practices at least every 2 years.

(a) The following items shall be included in personnel practices and shall be submitted to the department for approval with the original application:
1. Job specifications for all positions of 6 months or longer duration in the agency.

2. `Staff pattern'. There shall be a staff sufficient in number and qualifications for the scope of the agency's services.

(b) There shall be written policy statements available to all employees and made known to each employee at the time of employment including:
1. The method of wage adjustments.

2. Retirement program.

3. Health and other insurance programs.

4. Vacation, sick leave, holidays and leaves of absence.

5. Probationary status.

6. Termination procedures.

7. Agency chain of command.

8. Grievance procedures.

9. Employment outside the agency.

10. For the specific job classification for which application is being made:
a. Compensation.

b. Hours of work.

c. Job specifications.

d. Performance evaluations.

(1m) PERSONNEL RECORD. A personnel record shall be maintained for each staff member and be available to authorized licensing staff. The record shall include:

(a) Employment application showing qualifications and experience.

(b) Statements from previous employers or personal references.

(c) Dates of employment.

(d) Reports of job performance, if any.

(e) Medical reports, if pertinent.

(f) When the employee terminates employment, the dates and the reasons for separation.

(2) PERSONNEL.

(a) General qualifications.
1. All employees shall have the ability and emotional stability to carry out their assigned duties.

2. Character references from at least 2 people and references from previous employers within the last 5 years must be obtained for prospective employees.

3. References may be documented either by letter or verifications in the record of verbal contact giving dates, person making the contact and persons contacted and the contact content.

4. The agency shall review and investigate application information carefully to determine whether employment of the individual is in the best interests of children under its care.

(b) Administrative staff.
1. An executive or administrator shall be employed who shall:
a. Possess a knowledge of child welfare services and a demonstrated actual or potential administrative skill and leadership.

b. Be a graduate of a college or university with a minimum of 15 graduate credits in the social sciences.

c. Have at least 2 years experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity.

2. The executive's duties in administering the agency shall include:
a. Responsibility to the board for satisfactory management.

b. Keeping the board informed of the program of the agency.

c. Interpreting and implementing recognized standards of child welfare.

d. Preparing and presenting the annual budget for discussion and approval.

e. Responsibility for the operation of the program of child welfare in employment, supervision and discharge of staff.

3. If the executive also functions as casework supervisor he shall meet the additional requirements for that classification.

4. There shall be a qualified staff person to whom authority is delegated in the absence of the executive.

(c) Social service staff.
1. If a director of social services is employed, he shall have a master's degree from an accredited school of social work and a minimum of 2 years of post master's degree social work experience in a supervisory capacity supplemented by or including experience in family or child welfare.

2. A casework supervisor shall have a master's degree in social work, or its equivalent and have a minimum of 2 years of supervised experience in family or child welfare.

3. An advanced social worker shall meet one of the following:
a. A master's degree in social work, or

b. One year of graduate work in an accredited graduate school of social work or its equivalent and at least 2 years supervised experience in family or child welfare, or

c. College graduation and at least 3 years of supervised experience in family and child welfare with 12 graduate credits in social work plus approved in-service training.

3m. At least 50% of the social worker staff shall be in the advanced social work category.

4. College graduates may be employed who do not have the foregoing training and experience. They shall have a minimum of 15 hours in the social sciences and within 2 years of employment have completed an approved in-service training program.

5. Persons who do not have qualifications for social worker but who have an interest in working with people may assist the social services staff. Employees in this classification shall have professional social worker supervision. They shall not assume the full responsibilities and duties normally assigned to a social worker.

(d) Consultant services. The agency shall provide consultant services as required to meet the needs of the children. Consultants shall meet the standards of their professional groups.

(e) Volunteers. If volunteers are used, the agency shall assign an appropriate staff member to evaluate and supervise them and to develop a plan for their orientation, training and use.

(3) STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING.

(a) The agency shall have within one year of original licensure, written material concerning the process and content of orientation, staff development and in-service training programs for agency employees.

(b) These programs shall include provision for the development of a working knowledge of these rules as they pertain to individual responsibilities of each employee.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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