Virginia Law

A. A staff member shall be designated to perform each function described in this chapter.

B. A person who assumes or is designated to assume the responsibilities of a position or any combination of positions described in this chapter shall meet the qualifications of each position held.

C. Executive director.

1. Each licensee shall appoint an executive director. An entity such as a corporation or company shall not serve as the executive director.

2. Each licensee shall delegate to the executive director the responsibilities for the general administration and day-to-day operation of the child-placing agency including implementation of all child-placing agency programs, policies, procedures, and financial management.

3. The executive director shall have a doctorate or master's degree from an accredited college or university plus five years of experience in a social service agency or program including one year in an administrative, supervisory, or consultative capacity.

D. Program director.

1. The program director shall:

a. Supervise directly or through others all child‑placing staff and activities; and

b. Assist the executive director in the formulation and implementation of the agency's policies and programs related to child placing and in the specific program area in which he works.

2. The program director shall have either a doctorate or master's degree in social work from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education plus three years of experience in providing casework services to children and their families and one year as an administrator or supervisor of casework services.

3. If the program director does not have a doctorate or master's degree in social work, he shall have a doctorate or master's degree in a field related to social work such as, but not limited to, sociology, psychology, special education, or counseling; and at least four years casework service experience with children and families, two of which must be in providing casework services to children and families in a child-placing agency and one year of experience must be as an administrator or supervisor of casework services.

E. Child‑placing supervisor.

1. A child-placing agency employing six or more caseworkers shall employ a child‑placing supervisor.

2. The child-placing supervisor shall be responsible for direct supervision of caseworkers.

3. Each child-placing supervisor shall supervise no more than a total of eight caseworkers at any one time.

4. The child-placing supervisor shall have:

a. A doctorate or master's degree in social work from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education plus three years of experience in providing casework services to children and families;

b. A doctorate or master's degree in a field related to social work such as, but not limited to, sociology, psychology, special education, or counseling with at least four years of experience in providing casework services to children and families in a child-placing agency; or

c. A baccalaureate degree in any field plus five years of experience in providing casework services to children and families.

F. Case worker.

1. Responsibilities of the caseworker include:

a. Interviewing children and families;

b. Conducting and writing home studies;

c. Service planning by developing individualized treatment and service plans;

d. Counseling children and families in preparation for placement or discharge;

e. Supervising children in resource, foster, and adoptive homes; and in independent living arrangements;

f. Preparing and maintaining case records;

g. Coordinating services to minimize fragmentation of care, reduce barriers, and link children with appropriate services to ensure comprehensive, continuous access to needed medical, social, educational, and other services appropriate to the needs of the child;

h. Assessing periodically to determine the child's needs for psychosocial, nutritional, medical, and educational services;

i. Coordinating referrals by assisting the child in arranging for appropriate services and ensuring continuity of care for a child in treatment foster care. The case worker shall link the child to services and supports specified in the individualized treatment and service plan. The case worker shall directly assist the child to locate or obtain needed services and resources. The case worker shall coordinate services and service planning with other agencies and providers involved with the child by arranging, as needed, medical, remedial, and dental services;

j. Monitoring and following up by assessing ongoing progress in each case and ensuring services are delivered. The case worker shall continually evaluate and review each child's plan of care. The case worker shall collaborate with the family assessment and planning teams and other involved parties on reviews and coordination of services to children and their families;

k. Educating and counseling by guiding the child and developing a supportive relationship that promotes the service plan; and

l. Collaborating closely with the family assessment and planning teams and other involved parties in preparation of all case plans.

2. The case worker shall have:

a. A doctorate or master's degree in social work from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or a field related to social work such as sociology, psychology, special education, or counseling, with a student placement in casework services to children and families or one year of experience in providing casework services to children and families;

b. A baccalaureate degree in social work or a field related to social work including, but not limited to, sociology, psychology, special education, or counseling and one year of experience in providing casework services to children and families; or

c. A baccalaureate degree in any field plus two years experience in providing casework services to children and families.

G. Case worker trainee. When a child-placing agency employs a casework trainee, all of the following conditions shall be met:

1. The trainee shall have a baccalaureate degree in any field;

2. The program director or a child-placing supervisor shall directly supervise the trainee and develop a written training program listing topics to be covered during the period of time the individual is a trainee; and

3. Placement decisions made by the trainee shall be approved by the supervisor.

H. Students or interns receiving professional training.

1. If the licensee's child-placing agency provides professional training to undergraduate or graduate students or interns, it shall have a written plan for their selection, orientation, training, supervision, assignment, and evaluation.

2. An individual with a doctorate degree or a master's degree in social work from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education shall supervise students or interns who perform child‑placing activities and approve all placement decisions made by the student or intern.

3. The licensee's child-placing agency shall not be wholly dependent upon the use of students or interns receiving professional training to ensure the provision of services.

I. Volunteers.

1. The child-placing agency shall, if it makes use of volunteers, have a written plan for selection, orientation, training, supervision, and assignment.

2. Staff who usually supervise or perform the assigned tasks shall supervise volunteers.

3. When the volunteer is used to perform any staff function or responsibility, the volunteer shall meet the qualifications for the function or responsibility performed.

4. The licensee's child-placing agency shall not be wholly dependent upon the use of volunteers to ensure the provision of services.

J. Consultants. All consultants engaged to provide services to the licensee's child-placing agency or to children and their families served by the child-placing agency shall be professionally qualified according to the requirements of the Code of Virginia governing professions.