(a) Prior to providing services or accessing an individual's confidential information, the comprehensive provider agency must ensure that each staff member:
  (1) can provide services within the scope of the staff member's license, job description, or contract specification;
  (2) has completed required training modules as identified by HHSC; and
  (3) has the following minimum competencies:
    (A) an understanding of the nature of severe mental illness and serious emotional disturbances;
    (B) an understanding of the developmental needs of an adult, child, or youth;
    (C) the ability to interact appropriately with an individual who has a physical disability;
    (D) the ability to respond to an individual's linguistic and cultural needs through knowledge of customs, beliefs, and values of various, racial, ethnic, religious, and social groups;
    (E) identification of an individual experiencing a crisis and the process for accessing crisis services;
    (F) knowledge of appropriate actions to take in managing a crisis;
    (G) knowledge of available resources within the local community;
    (H) an understanding of the dignity and rights of an individual, as described in 25 TAC §404.154 (relating to Rights of All Persons Receiving Mental Health Services) and 25 TAC §404.163 (relating to Communication of Rights to Individuals Receiving Mental Health Services);
    (I) the ability to identify, prevent, and report abuse, neglect, and exploitation, in accordance with 40 TAC Chapter 705 (relating to Adult Protective Services) and Chapter 711 (relating to Investigations of Individuals Receiving Services from Certain Providers);
    (J) knowledge of individual confidentiality and relevant state and federal laws affecting confidentiality of medical records, including Title 42 CFR Part 2;
    (K) knowledge of professional ethics and standards of conduct;
    (L) knowledge of proper documentation of services provided;
    (M) understanding exposure control of blood borne pathogens; and
    (N) the ability to respond to severe weather, disasters, and bioterrorism.
(b) For a staff member whose primary duties include assessment and service authorization, the comprehensive provider agency must ensure that the staff member has the ability to:
  (1) complete the uniform assessment; and
  (2) understand and apply the utilization management guidelines.
(c) For a staff member whose primary duties include individual service contacts and interactions, the comprehensive provider agency must ensure that the staff member has adequate knowledge of:
  (1) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);
  (2) first aid;
  (3) safe management of verbally and physically aggressive behavior;
  (4) use of assistive technology, such as communication devices, with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or have a physical disability;
  (5) seizure assessment and response;
  (6) infection control;
  (7) how to recognize, report, and record side effects, contraindications, and drug interactions of psychoactive medication;
  (8) assessment and intervention with children, youth, and families; and
  (9) clinical specialties directly related to the services to be performed.
(d) A staff member who provides mental health targeted case management must also have:
  (1) knowledge of strategies for advocating effectively on behalf of individuals;
  (2) the ability to document the mental health targeted case management services described in §354.2655 of this title (relating to Case Management Services); and
  (3) knowledge gained from the completion of training modules as identified by HHSC.
(e) A staff member who provides intensive case management, before providing services to children and youth, must complete training approved by HHSC on wraparound process planning and demonstrate understanding of wraparound process planning.
(f) A staff member who routinely provides or supervises the provision of mental health targeted intensive case management to a child or youth must receive training and demonstrate competency in the aspects of a child's or youth's growth and development (including physical, emotional cognitive, educational and social) and the treatment needs of a child or youth.
(g) Additional competencies for providers of mental health rehabilitative services.
  (1) A comprehensive provider agency must ensure that a staff member who provides mental health rehabilitative services is trained in the rehabilitative practice techniques related to:
    (A) medication training and support services;
    (B) skills training and development; and
    (C) psychosocial rehabilitation.
  (2) A comprehensive provider agency must ensure that staff members who provide or supervise the provision of mental health rehabilitative services receive initial training in:
    (A) the nature of serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance;
    (B) the concepts of recovery and resilience;
    (C) the rehabilitative practice techniques found in curricula, program practices, and protocols;
    (D) the prevalence of physical health risk factors; and
    (E) other training modules as identified by HHSC.

Source Note: The provisions of this §353.1413 adopted to be effective October 17, 2018, 43 TexReg 6816