§ 5240.73. Training requirements for staff who provide individual services.
(a) An IBHS agency that provides individual services shall ensure that staff complete initial and annual training requirements.
(b) An individual who provides behavior consultation services or mobile therapy services shall complete at least 16 hours of Department-approved training annually that is related to the individual’s specific job functions and is in accordance with the individual training plan required under § 5240.13 (relating to staff training plan).
(c) If the individual has not previously provided BHT services, the individual shall complete at least 30 hours of Department-approved training prior to providing services independently that includes the following topics:
(1) Sections 6301—6386 of 23 Pa.C.S. (relating to Child Protective Services Law) and mandated reporting requirements.
(2) Crisis intervention skills, including risk management, de-escalation techniques and safety planning.
(3) Behavior management skills and coaching.
(4) Child and adolescent development.
(5) Overview of serious emotional disturbance and other behavioral and psychosocial needs of the children, youth and young adults with whom the individual works.
(6) Professional ethics, conduct and confidentiality.
(7) First aid, universal precautions and safety.
(8) Psychotropic medications, including common side effects.
(d) If an individual has not previously provided BHT services, the individual shall complete at least 24 hours of Department-approved training within the first 6 months of providing BHT services that includes the following topics:
(1) Documentation skills.
(2) Systems of care principles.
(3) Overview of functional behavioral assessment.
(4) Ethnic, cultural and linguistic considerations of the community served.
(5) Strategies and interventions to engage children, youth or young adults and parents, legal guardians or caregivers in services, including family systems theory.
(6) Skills and techniques for working with families.
(7) Overview of community resources and child and youth-serving systems and processes.
(8) Cross-systems collaboration.
(9) Communication and conflict resolution skills.
(10) Basic individual education plan and special education information.
(11) Safe use of restrictive procedures in accordance with § 5240.6 (relating to restrictive procedures).
(e) An individual who provides BHT services shall complete at least 20 hours of Department-approved training annually that is related to the individual’s specific job functions and is in accordance with the individual training plan required under § 5240.13.
(f) An individual who provides BHT services may substitute completed college coursework for required training topics in subsection (c) or (d) by providing an official transcript and other documentation to the IBHS agency that reflects that the coursework addressed a required training topic.
(g) An individual who is certified may count hours of training required to maintain certification towards the training requirement in subsections (b)—(e).
(h) An individual who is licensed in this Commonwealth may count hours of training required to maintain licensure towards the training requirements in subsections (b)—(e).
Cross References This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 5240.83 (relating to training requirements for staff who provide ABA services); and 55 Pa. Code § 5240.93 (relating to training requirements for staff who provide group services).
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