Section 441.108.4. Staff qualifications.

An agency employee or volunteer shall be a person of good character, emotional stability, and have necessary ability, experience, and education to perform the duties assigned. An employee or volunteer shall not have a criminal record or founded child abuse report, unless the department has evaluated the crime or founded report and concluded that the crime or report does not merit prohibition of employment or licensure.

       108.4(1) Contracted employees. A child-placing agency which contracts for services shall ensure that contracted employees meet the same qualifications, training, and evaluation requirements as those of workers in employed positions. A child-placing agency is responsible for the services provided by contracted providers as well as volunteers and agency employees.

       108.4(2) Qualifications of administrator. An agency administrator shall possess one of the following:

        a.           A master’s degree in social work, sociology, psychology, guidance and counseling, a related area of human services, education, business administration, or public administration and two years of experience in a public or private social services agency.

        b.           A bachelor’s degree in social work, sociology, psychology, guidance and counseling, a related area of human services, education, business administration, or public administration and four years of experience in a public or private social services agency.

       108.4(3) Caseworker qualifications. Therapy and counseling services, psychosocial evaluation and assessment and care plan development shall be provided by staff who meet one of the following minimum education and experience criteria:

        a.           Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and the equivalent of three years of full-time experience in social work or experience in the delivery of human services in a public or private agency. In addition, these individuals shall have been employed by the agency prior to September 1, 1993. Persons meeting this criterion will not be qualified to provide therapy and counseling if they change place of employment.

        b.           Graduation from an accredited four-year college, institute or university with a bachelor’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the council on social work education.

        c.           Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in a human service field related to social work and the equivalent of two years of full-time experience in social work or experience in the delivery of human services in a public or private agency.

        d.           Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a master’s degree in social work or related human service field.

        e.           Any equivalent combination of graduate education in the social or behavioral sciences from an accredited four-year college or university and qualifying experience up to a maximum of 30 semester hours for one year of the required experience.

       108.4(4) Person filling more than one position. A person functioning in more than one position specified by these rules shall meet the requirements for each of the positions the person fills.