Section 410IAC16.2-3.1-34. Social services

   (a) The facility must provide medically-related social services to attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident, including the following where appropriate:

(1) Assessment of each resident's psychosocial needs and development of a plan for providing care.

(2) Review of the resident's needs and care plan with progress notes indicating implementation of methods to respond to identified needs.

(3) Assistance to residents and spouses to utilize community resources through referral when the services needed are not provided by the facility.

(4) Assistance to residents in adjusting to the facility, exercising rights as residents, and promoting the continuance of relationships with the family and community.

(5) Advice and appropriate referrals to minimize social and economic obstacles to discharge and coordination of discharge planning.

(6) Coordination of relocation planning, including advice and referral to community resources before and during relocation.

(7) Establishment of a positive and socially therapeutic environment through staff training and input on policies and procedures.

(8) Promotion of facility-community interaction.

  (b) At least fifteen (15) minutes of time shall be provided per resident per week by the qualified social worker or social service designee for social service duties.

  (c) In facilities of more than one hundred twenty (120) beds, the facility must employ, full time, a qualified social worker. A qualified social worker is one (1) of the following:

(1) Indiana board certification in social work under IC 25-23.6-5-1 with at least one (1) year's experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals.

(2) An individual with a bachelor's or advanced degree, or both, in social work or a bachelor's or advanced degree, or both, in a human services field, including, but not limited to:

(A) sociology;

(B) special education;

(C) rehabilitation counseling; or

(D) psychology; or

(E) gerontology;

and one (1) year of supervised social service experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals.

  (d) In facilities of one hundred twenty (120) beds or less, a person who provides social services is an individual with one (1) of the following qualifications:

(1) Indiana board certification in social work under IC 25-23.6-5-1 with at least one (1) year's experience in a health care setting working directly with individuals.

(2) A bachelor's or advanced degree, or both, in social work or a degree in the human services fields, including, but not limited to:

(A) sociology;

(B) special education;

(C) rehabilitation counseling;

(D) psychology; and

(E) gerontology;

and one (1) year of supervised social service experience under the supervision of a qualified social worker in a health care setting working directly with individuals.

(3) A high school diploma or its equivalent who has satisfactorily completed, or will complete within six (6) months, a forty-eight (48) hour social service course approved by the division. Consultation must be provided by a person who meets the qualifications under subdivision (1) or (2). Consultation by a person who meets the qualifications under subdivision (1) or (2) must occur no less than an average of four (4) hours per month.

(4) Ordained minister, priest, rabbi, or sister or brother of religious institutes who has satisfactorily completed a forty-eight (48) hour social service course approved by the division. A person who has not completed a course must have consultation of no less than an average of four (4) hours per month from a person who meets the qualifications of subdivision (1) or (2) until the person has satisfactorily completed the division approved course.

  (e) Current employment as a social service designee who completed an approved social service course prior to the effective date of this rule shall be allowed to maintain a position as a social service designee in health care facilities. Consultation shall be provided in accordance with subsection (d).

  (f) For purposes of IC 16-28-5-1, a breach of:

(1) subsection (a) is a deficiency;

(2) subsection (b), (c), or (d) is a noncompliance; and

(3) subsection (e) is a nonconformance.

(Indiana State Department of Health; 410 IAC 16.2-3.1-34; filed Jan 10, 1997, 4:00 p.m.: 20 IR 1553, eff Apr 1, 1997; errata filed Jan 10, 1997, 4:00 p.m.: 20 IR 1593; errata filed Apr 10, 1997, 12:15 p.m.: 20 IR 2414; filed May 16, 2001, 2:09 p.m.: 24 IR 3028; readopted filed Jul 11, 2001, 2:23 p.m.: 24 IR 4234; readopted filed May 22, 2007, 1:44 p.m.: 20070613-IR-410070141RFA; readopted filed Sep 11, 2013, 3:19 p.m.: 20131009-IR-410130346RFA)