R432-101-30. Social Services

(1) The facility shall provide social services to assist staff, patients, and patients' families to understand and cope with a patient's social, emotional, and related health problems.

(a) Social services shall be under the direction of a licensed clinical social worker. The role and function of social services shall be listed in policy documents and meet generally accepted practices of Mental Health Professional Practice Act.

(b) Social services personnel shall serve as a patient advocate to:

(i) provide services to maximize each patient's ability to adjust to the social and emotional aspects of his situation, treatments, and continued stay in the hospital;

(ii) participate in ongoing discharge planning to assure continuity of care for the patient;

(iii) initiate referrals to official agencies when the patient needs legal or financial assistance;

(iv) maintain appropriate liaison with the family or other responsible persons concerning the patient's placement and rights;

(v) preserve the dignity and rights of each patient.

(2) Each hospital shall develop social services policies and procedures which include at least the following:

(a) a system to identify, plan, and provide services according to the social and emotional needs of patients;

(b) job descriptions, including title and qualifications of all persons who provide social services;

(c) a method to refer patients to outside social services agencies when the hospital is unable to resolve a patient's problems.

(3) The Social Service director shall participate in any pertinent quality assurance activities of the hospital.