Professional Qualifications and Job Functions – All professional staff employed by

Professional Qualifications and Job Functions – All professional staff employed by the Partner Provider must be qualified in their occupational field or licensed in their professional field. The Partner Provider must employ sufficient staff to provide the fiscal, clerical, food service, housekeeping, and maintenance functions needed. The Partner Provider must also employ staff to perform administrative, supervisory, services, and care functions. All Professional Staff employed by the Partner Provider that will provide counseling or therapy for the children must have and maintain the licensing and certification requirements of their professional discipline, such as Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Social Workers for Marriage and Family Therapists, the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors, and Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Psychology. The following positions must have at least the following qualifications, responsibilities, and comparable titles: 1. Executive Director. The Executive Director must be responsible for the general management and administration of the facility or Partner Provider in accordance with the policies of the governing body and must be qualified by training and experience as agreed upon by the governing body. a. The Executive Director is responsible for informing the governing body in writing of any investigation findings from the Congregate Care Unit or Safety Department. b. The Executive Director must be a full-time employee working a minimum of forty (40) hours per week. c. Must have at least a master’s degree in social work, administration, psychology or related area of study from an accredited school and at least two years’ experience in the management or supervision of childcare personnel and program or a bachelor level licensed social worker or licensed counselor with four years’ experience in the management or supervision of childcare personnel and programs. 2. Program Director. The Program Director must be responsible for the onsite, day-to-day development, implementation, and supervision of the programs and services of the facility, and be on-site at least forty (40) hours per week or participating in planned activities with children off-site. a. This includes making sure youth have transportation to, and participate in independent living skills groups and planning and coordinating the services and resources affecting children and their families. b. The Program Director must have a master’s degree in social work or a related area of study from an accredited school and at least two years’ experience as a case manager, management, and supervisor of a childcare program or bachelor’s degree in social work or a comparable field with two years’ experience working directly with children. c. The Program Director is responsible for supervising, evaluating, training and monitoring the functions of all staff. 3. Social Worker. A Social Worker is responsible for performing intake services, providing casework or group work services for children and their families if applicable, conducting counseling and therapy sessions with children and seeking placements and assessment studies related to family foster homes and adoption. a. The Social Worker must be a Licensed Master’s Social Worker, or have either a master’s degree in social work or a related area of study comparable with the human services field or be a Licensed Social Worker with a bachelor’s degree in social work or a comparable human services field with two years’ experience working directly with children. b. This position must work a minimum of forty (40) hours a week. 4. Case Manager. A Case Manager performs casework and group work tasks for children and their families, if applicable, making sure youth have transportation to and participate in independent living skills groups, and plan and coordinate services and resources affecting the children and their families. a. The Case Manager must have a bachelor’s degree in social work or comparable human services field from an accredited school and at least two years related experience. b. The Case Manager must be a full-time employee working a minimum of forty (40) hours a week. 5. Direct Care Supervisor. A Direct Care Supervisor refers to people in charge of small congregate care facilities under the direction of an executive director. a. Responsible for supervising, evaluating, and monitoring the daily work and progress of the direct care staff. b. The Direct Care Supervisor must have an associate’s degree in childcare or related area of study from an accredited school with at least two years’ experience in a facility; or a high school or equivalency diploma and at least three years’ experience in a facility. 6. Direct Care Staff. The Direct Care Staff is responsible for the daily direct care, nurturing and supervision of the children. a. Direct Care Staff must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and have a high school or equivalent diploma and at least one (1) year experience in the caring of children.