1. (1) The agency administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the agency's provision of certified behavioral health treatment services, including:

   1. (a) All administrative matters;
   2. (b) Individual care services; and
   3. (c) Meeting all applicable rules, policies, and ethical standards.
2. (2) The administrator may delegate the responsibilities assigned to them under this section to appropriate staff. The administrator retains overall responsibility for responsibilities delegated to appropriate staff.
3. (3) The administrator must delegate to a staff person the duty and responsibility to act on the administrator's behalf when the administrator is not on duty or on call.

4. (4) The administrator or their designee must ensure:

   1. (a) Administrative, personnel, and clinical policies and procedures are adhered to and compliant with the rules in this chapter and other applicable state and federal statutes and regulations;
   2. (b) There is sufficient qualified personnel to provide adequate treatment services and facility security;
   3. (c) All persons providing clinical services are appropriately credentialed for the clinical services they provide;
   4. (d) Clinical supervision of all clinical services including clinical services provided by trainees, students, and volunteers;
   5. (e) There is an up-to-date personnel file for each employee, trainee, student, volunteer, and for each contracted staff person who provides or supervises an individual's care;
   6. (f) Personnel records document that Washington state patrol background checks consistent with chapter 43.43 RCW have been completed for each employee in contact with individuals receiving services; and

   7. (g) A written internal quality management plan, human resources plan or similarly specialized plan, as appropriate, is developed and maintained that:

      1. (i) Addresses the clinical supervision and training of staff providing clinical services;
      2. (ii) Monitors compliance with the rules in this chapter, and other state and federal rules and laws that govern agency licensing and certification requirements; and

      3. (iii) Continuously improves the quality of care in all of the following:

         1. (A) Cultural competency that aligns with the agency's local community and individuals the agency serves or may serve;
         2. (B) Use of evidence based and promising practices; and
         3. (C) In response to critical incidents and substantiated complaints.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 71.24.037, 71.05.560, 71.34.380, 18.205.160, 71.24.037 and chapters 71.05, 71.24, and 71.34 RCW. WSR 21-12-042, § 246-341-0410, filed 5/25/21, effective 7/1/21. Statutory Authority: 2018 c 201 and 2018 c 291. WSR 19-09-062, § 246-341-0410, filed 4/16/19, effective 5/17/19.]