Rule 111-8-2-.10. Staff

1. (1) Medical Director. Each ARMHP must have a medical director. The medical director must be a psychiatrist who is licensed to practice in this State and who is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. The medical director is responsible for providing or supervising all psychiatric care and treatment at the program and shall retain responsibility for the range and quality of services provided at the program.
2. (2) Administrator. Each ARMHP must have an administrator. The administrator is the manager designated by the Governing Body as responsible for the day-to-day management, administration, and supervision of the program, who may also serve as the on-site manager and responsible staff person except during periods of his or her own absence. During such times of temporary absence, the administrator shall designate a responsible person to be in charge of the program.
3. (3) ARMHPs must designate a Food Service Manager. Such person shall be responsible for managing the preparation of meals and must enforce safe food handling practices which address basic food safety, hygiene, cross contamination, time and temperature requirements, and sanitation with staff and clients.

4. (4) Minimum Required Staffing. The program must provide sufficient trained staff to meet the health and safety needs of the clients. At a minimum, each ARMHP shall have the following clients on staff:

   1. (a) Psychiatrist, or other physician when the psychiatrist is unavailable.
   2. (b) Registered professional nurse or advanced practice nurse practitioner.
   3. (c) Clinical case management staff to facilitate care and safe discharge planning.
   4. (d) Mental health technicians or similarly trained paraprofessionals or certified peer specialists.

5. (5) Minimum Staffing Hours.

   1. (a) The medical director must be physically present at the program on a regular basis sufficient to maintain professional responsibility for the provision of mental health services at the program.
   2. (b) An on-site manager must be physically present at the program at all times the program is operational. The administrator may serve as an on-site manager.
   3. (c) A physician or qualified mental health professional must be available for client consultation at all times the program is operational.
   4. (d) Each program must maintain a staffing ratio of not less than 1 trained staff person (mental health professional, nurse, paraprofessional or certified peer specialist) for every 12 clients at all times the program is operational.
6. (6) Staff subject to professional practice acts must be in compliance with the Georgia practice acts applicable to each respective professional practice.
7. (7) All staff are required to comply with the Georgia codes of ethics which govern their respective practices.
8. (8) The medical responsibility for each client will be vested in a licensed physician who oversees all medical services provided by the program.
9. (9) Counseling services are provided by program staff qualified by education, training, and experience to provide mental health counseling and who are licensed/certified if required by Georgia practice acts applicable to each respective professional practice.

10. (10) Staff Training and Orientation. Prior to working with clients, all staff who provide treatment and services shall be oriented in accordance with these rules and shall thereafter receive additional training in accordance with these rules.

    1. (a) Orientation shall include instruction in:

       1. 1. The program's written policies and procedures regarding its program purpose and description; client rights, responsibilities, and complaints; confidentiality; and other policies and procedures that are relevant to the staff member's range of duties and responsibilities, including the use of universal precautions for infection control, use of behavior management and emergency safety interventions, and information about HIV/AIDS;
       2. 2. The staff member's assigned duties and responsibilities; and
       3. 3. Reporting client progress and problems to supervisory personnel and procedures for handling medical emergencies or other incidents that affect the delivery of treatment or services.
       4. 4. Additional training shall be provided annually for each staff member who provides treatment services to clients. Such training shall be in subjects that relate to the staff member's assigned duties and responsibilities and include a minimum of twenty (20) clock hours.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 37-3-204, 37-3-205, 31-2-4, 31-2-7, 31-2-8, 31-7-2.1.

History. Original Rule entitled "Staff" adopted. F. Dec. 10, 2024; eff. Dec. 30, 2024.