Section 400.12207. Staff responsibilities.

(1) An agency shall designate that the chief administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the agency and for ensuring compliance with the applicable provisions of these rules.

(2)   An agency chief administrator shall be administratively responsible for all of the following functions:

(a)     Not less than once annually, conduct a written assessment and verify the agency’s compliance with the applicable provisions of these rules.

(b)    Assess all disrupted and unplanned removals of children from foster homes, independent living, and adoptive homes to identify systemic trends and patterns of those disrupted and unplanned removals.

(c)       Within 6 months, develop and implement a written plan to correct noncompliance identified in subdivision (a) of this subrule and address causes of disrupted and unplanned removals identified in subdivision (b) of this subrule.

(d)  Provide space for staff and children served to be interviewed privately by police, regulatory staff, or other entities investigating activities of the agency related to safety of children and compliance with statute and promulgated rules.

(3)   An agency shall require that social service workers be directly responsible for all of the following activities:

(a)    Placing and supervising children in out-of-home care. Social service workers shall work directly with the children, their families, and other relevant individuals and be primarily responsible for the development, implementation, and review of service plans for the children and their families.

(b)   Assessing and certifying private family homes for licensure and supervising the homes.

(c)   Conducting evaluations of private family homes for purposes of adoption.

(d)  Assessing of children for adoptive placement.

(4)   An agency shall require social service aides to be directly responsible to a social service worker or social service supervisor. A social service aide may provide clearly defined support functions, but shall not have responsibility for any of the following:

(a)   Case planning.

(b)   Selecting placements.

(c)   Foster home certification.

(d)    Making visits required under R 400.12419, R 400.12505, R 400.12711 or R 400.12806

(e)   Conducting adoptive family evaluations.

History: 1998-2000 AACS; 2014 AACS.