The standards maintained by the applying agency should conform
with those considered reasonable and current in the community served by that
agency. Also, separate segments of the program must be evaluated not only in
terms of its own intrinsic value to the community but also in terms of its
relationship to the total program of that agency. The standards maintained by
the applying agency should be reflected in its basic documents, including its
articles of incorporation or constitutions, its by-laws, its recorded minutes
of regularly scheduled meetings, and its written description of personnel
practices. The following guidelines will be followed by the licensing agency in
its inspection of the applying agency:
(a) The applying agency must specify in
writing the services it offers and the manner in which these are routinely
accomplished.
(b) The applying
agency must make provision for appropriate coordination, communication and
collaboration among all personnel.
(c) The governing board must assume the legal
and moral responsibility for the conduct of the applying agency. It must place
the responsibility for the services offered upon the appropriate specialist,
must assume the responsibility that the personnel meet ethical, educational,
and training standards commensurate with duties, and must provide a merit
system for the protection and benefit of the personnel.
(d) The governing board must assume the
responsibility to insure that those functions of the agency that are, properly
speaking, medical concerns (such as the diagnosis and treatment of mental and
physical disorders, the prescribing of medications, etc.) are the
responsibility of licensed physicians or under the supervision of a licensed
physician.
(e) In the event the
applying agency maintains a psychiatric service, the service shall not be
considered complete unless supervised by a recognized, qualified psychiatrist.
(f) In the event the applying
agency maintains a psychological service, the service shall not be considered
complete unless supervised by a recognized, qualified psychologist.
(g) In the event the applying agency
maintains a social work service, the service shall not be considered complete
unless supervised by a recognized, qualified social worker.
(h) In the event the applying agency
maintains a nursing service, the service shall not be considered complete
unless supervised by a recognized, qualified registered nurse.
(i) Any individual reporting to act in a
professional capacity must meet the standards for that profession accepted by
the division of mental health and retardation services.
