Missouri Code of State Regulations › Title 13 - DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES › Division 35 - Children's Division › Chapter 73 - Child Placing Agencies › Section 13 CSR 35-73.035 - Staff Qualifications and Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 14, July 15, 2024
PURPOSE: The purpose of this proposed amendment is to
				  ensure that the language of the rule is consistent with current practices, and
				  to incorporate the requirements of House Bill 557 (2021).
(1) Employee Qualifications. The agency shall
				employ staff who are qualified by education, training, and experience for their
				assigned responsibilities. A current employee who has qualified for a position
				under the previous rule and is serving in that position shall be exempt from
				meeting any increased requirements defined by these rules. Each individual
				associated with the agency who is required to submit to a background check
				pursuant to section
				210.493,
				RSMo, and 13 CSR 35-71.015 must also
				successfully complete the background check and be found eligible by the
				division for employment or presence at the licensed child placing
				agency.
(2) Administrative
				Personnel.
(A) The agency shall employ staff
				to perform administrative, supervisory, social service and direct care
				functions which may be combined only upon the approval of the governing
				board.
(B) Staff members shall meet
				the requirements for each function, for direct and nondirect care functions,
				when such functions are combined as approved by the governing board.
(C) The administrator shall be at least
				twenty-five (25) years of age and shall have one (1) of the following:
1. A master's degree in social work,
				counseling, social work administration, or a related human service degree from
				an accredited school and three (3) years' experience in the management or
				supervision of child placing or residential care personnel and programs;
				or
2. A bachelor's degree in social
				work or a human service area of study from an accredited school and five (5)
				years' experience in the management or supervision of child placing or
				residential care personnel and programs; or
3. If the administrator is responsible only
				for administrative functions such as personnel and fiscal matters and is not
				responsible for direct supervision of the programs and services of the agency,
				the agency may then employ an administrator who has a bachelor's degree from an
				accredited school and two (2) years' experience in child placing or residential
				care services. However, in this case, the agency shall employ a person,
				responsible for the direct supervision of the agency's services, who meets the
				qualifications set forth in 13 CSR 35-73.035(2)(C) 1. or 2.
(D) The administrator's
				responsibilities include:
1. Developing,
				implementing, and maintaining policies and procedures for program and fiscal
				operation under the direction of the governing board and maintaining compliance
				with all applicable requirements of federal and state law, including the
				background check and eligibility requirements of section
				210.493,
				RSMo, and 13 CSR 35-71.015;
2. Keeping the governing board informed of
				the program and management of the agency;
3. Interpreting and implementing recognized
				standards for child welfare services;
4. Ensuring that the agency achieves and
				maintains compliance with the requirements of the licensing rules;
5. Employing, evaluating, and discharging
				staff members, in accordance with the agency's established personnel policies;
				and
6. Ensuring the maintenance of
				current client's records and statistics.
(E) When the position of administrator is
				vacated, the governing board shall within five (5) working days submit a plan
				for interim management to the division for approval. The plan is to include:
1. Provisions for recruitment of a permanent
				administrator;
2. The name of the
				designee and his/her qualifications; and
3. His/her responsibilities.
(F) The administrator shall
				designate in writing a qualified staff person to be in charge when s/he is
				absent.