Section 465IAC2-2-5. Personnel; standards for number and type of employees

   (a) Each child-placing agency shall employ a competent, qualified, and reputable executive, and a sufficient number of competent and qualified employees to provide adequate supervision and service for the children under care of the agency. The casework supervisor employed by such agency shall have the following:

(1) a master's degree or higher from an accredited school in:

(A) social work;

(B) counseling; or

(C) a related human service area of study;

(2) supervised casework in the field; and

(3) at least one (1) year of child-placing experience in a recognized or licensed agency having responsibility for the placement of children in foster care.

  (b) The following standard shall be used as a guide by each child-placing agency and by the department in determining the number of caseworkers needed by the child-placing agency:

(1) The number of children under the supervision of one (1) caseworker shall not exceed eighteen (18).

(2) For children requiring enhanced supervision, the caseworker to child ratio shall be determined and approved by the department, which ratio shall range between 1:8 and 1:12.

  (c) Each child-placing agency shall employ as staff members only persons:

(1) duly qualified;

(2) of good character as evidenced by character references; and

(3) in satisfactory health.

  (d) Each child-placing agency shall employ a sufficient number of office staff members to properly maintain office administrative procedures on a current basis.

  (e) Each child-placing agency furnishing medical or dental care to children in the care of the agency shall use the services of only licensed physicians and dentists.

  (f) Each child-placing agency shall adopt specific written policies regarding personnel practices affecting staff members of the agency.

  (g) The supervisor to caseworker staff ratio shall range between one (1) supervisor for five (5) caseworkers and one (1) supervisor to eight (8) caseworkers depending on the level of enhanced supervision required for the children being served.

  (h) An employee who is in a position on January 1, 2012, and who was qualified for that position under subsection (a) as in effect before January 1, 2012, is exempt from the requirements of this section as amended on or after January 1, 2012. (Department of Child Services; Title 3,Ch 2,Reg 3-205; filed Dec 31, 1948, 10:30 a.m.: Rules and Regs. 1949, p. 340; readopted filed Jul 12, 2001, 1:40 p.m.: 24 IR 4235; readopted filed Nov 27, 2007, 6:52 a.m.: 20071226-IR-465070551RFA; filed May 25, 2011, 1:23 p.m.: 20110622-IR-465100415FRA, eff Jan 1, 2012; readopted filed Nov 26, 2013, 4:02 p.m.: 20131225-IR-465130459RFA) NOTE: Transferred from the Division of Family Resources (470 IAC 3-2-5) to the Department of Child Services (465 IAC 2-2-5) by P.L.234-2005, SECTION 195, effective July 1, 2005.