SOP_NUMBER: 508.01
TITLE: Mental Health Organization and Administration
REFERENCE_CODE: VG01-0001
DIVISION: Health Services Division (Mental Health)
TOPIC_AREA: 508 Policy-MH Administration/Staff/Certification
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2023-07-27
WORD_COUNT: 4028
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/106264
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/508.01/
SUMMARY:
This policy establishes the organizational structure and administrative framework for delivering mental health services to offenders with serious mental illness across all GDC facilities. It defines the roles and responsibilities of central office mental health administration and facility-based mental health programs, including oversight of clinical services, budget management, quality improvement, and coordination with other agencies. The policy applies to all GDC facilities with a mental health mission and requires compliance with mental health standard operating procedures and professional standards of care.
KEY_TOPICS: mental health organization, mental health administration, mental health programs, central office mental health, facility mental health, clinical director, mental health unit manager, mental health services, offenders with mental illness, serious mental illness, mental health staff, mental health caseload, supportive living units, mental health treatment, quality improvement
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 1 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
**I.** **Introduction and Summary:**
It is the policy of the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) that a system is in
place to facilitate the effective and efficient delivery of treatment services to offenders
with serious mental illness. Central office mental health administration is charged with
the responsibility of providing oversight, support, and technical assistance to the
facility-based Mental Health Programs. The latter are charged with the responsibility
of providing Mental Health Services to offenders with serious mental illness. Both
central office and facility based Mental Health Programs operate in compliance with
GDC Mental Health Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This procedure is
applicable to all GDC facilities with a mental health mission.
**II.** **Authority:**
A. GDC SOP: 104.61 Performance Management; and
B. ACA Standards: 5-ACI-6B-02 (Mandatory) and 5-ACI-6D-04.
**III.** **Definitions:**
A. **Chief Psychologist** - GDC employee hired by the Statewide Mental Health
Director to oversee the clinical services provided within the Mental Health
Programs, via audits, clinical training and other clinical activities associated with
the provision of Mental Health Services in GDC facilities.
B. **Clinical Director** - A psychologist hired by the contract vendor to provide clinical
direction and oversight to the facility’s Mental Health Program/team.
C. **Mental Health Offenders** - Justice-involved individuals assessed to have a mental
health disorder by either a psychologist, psychiatrist, or Advanced Practice
Registered Nurse (APRN) and placed on the mental health caseload to receive
Mental Health Services. They receive Mental Health Services apart from offenders
who are deemed as not having symptoms at a level serious enough to receive a
mental health diagnosis.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 2 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
D. **Mental Health Program/Mental Health Team** - Comprehensive Mental Health
Services provided by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals to include the
Clinical Director, Mental Health Unit Manager, psychologists, psychiatrists,
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), mental health nurses, mental
health counselors, mental health technicians, activity therapists, multifunctional
correctional officers, forensic peer mentors and other GDC staff involved in the
care and treatment of offenders.
E. **Mental Health** **Services** - the use of a variety of psychosocial and
pharmacological therapies, either individual or group, including biological,
psychological, and social, to alleviate symptoms, attain appropriate functioning
and prevent relapse.
F. **Mental Health Unit Manager (MHUM)** - A master’s level mental health
professional approved by the contract vendor to provide administrative direction
and oversight to the facility’s Mental Health Program. At smaller units, there will
be an assigned “Lead Counselor” to act as a unit manager.
G. **Privileged** - The mental health staff that are approved by the psychologist to
perform Mental Health Services/tasks based on mental health training and
experience.
H. **Program Consultant or Social Services Manager** - GDC employees hired by the
Statewide Mental Health Director to provide oversight and technical assistance to
mental health staff. Oversight is also provided for mental health-related training,
offender grievances, audits, and any mental health-related activity.
I. **Statewide Mental Health Director** - GDC employee hired by the Assistant
Commissioner of the Office of Health Services to oversee the development and
implementation of comprehensive Mental Health Services within facilities across
the state.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 3 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
J. **Suicide Prevention Specialist** - A psychologist and GDC employee hired by the
Statewide Mental Health Director to oversee suicide prevention activities,
committees, and the completion of psychological autopsies.
K. **Supportive Living Unit (SLU)** - Separate housing for offenders who are
identified with a moderate to severe mental illness and considered vulnerable to
victimization if housed in the general population.
L. **Vendor Program Manager** - Hired by GDC-assigned company and contracted to
hire and administratively supervise mental health staff for the provision of Mental
Health Services within GDC facilities.
**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**
A. Central Office Mental Health Service Administration:
1. Central office Mental Health Services under the direction of the Statewide
Mental Health Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and
overseeing a comprehensive system of Mental Health Services to treat
offenders with mental illness in accordance with GDC policy and procedures
and professional standards of care.
2. Central office mental health staff will manage, coordinate, and monitor the
statewide GDC mental health budget. Resources will be allocated to mental
health facilities based on identified mental health needs and facility mental
health missions.
3. Central office Mental Health Services will develop, implement, and monitor a
statewide mental health continuous quality improvement (CQI) program to
ensure:
a. The mental health service delivery system adheres to and operates in
accordance with mental health standard operating procedures.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 4 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
b. An appropriate level of care is being provided.
c. Resources are being well utilized; and
d. Needs are being identified and addressed.
4. Central office mental health staff will provide an advisory function through the
appropriate chain of command to GDC officials at all levels to keep them
apprised of any problems or needs within Mental Health Services based on
GDC standard operating procedures.
5. Central office mental health staff will be responsible for establishing
appropriate liaison with other agencies and organizations whose activities
affect the delivery of Mental Health Programs in the correctional system.
B. Organizational Structure of Facility Mental Health Units:
1. The delivery of Mental Health Services will be in accordance with standards,
policies and procedures established by central office mental health
administrators and contained in statewide mental health standard operating
procedures and in mental health directives.
2. The Mental Health Unit Manager will be responsible for maintaining a current
organizational chart showing reporting lines of authority. The organizational
chart will have positions and names of all mental health staff members.
3. Mental Health Programs will come under the direct operational authority of
the deputy warden of care and treatment at the facility level. The deputy
warden of care and treatment will administratively supervise the Mental Health
Unit Manager, directly and in collaboration with the contracted Vendor
Program Manager/designee. The Mental Health Unit Manager will
administratively supervise all mental health staff. The Clinical Director in
collaboration with the Mental Health Unit Manager will determine the program
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 5 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
clinical needs and both develop and oversee clinical services to meet those
needs.
a. The deputy warden of care and treatment will collaborate with the contract
Vendor Program Manager/designee on evaluations of the contract vendoremployed Mental Health Unit Manager.
b. The contract Vendor Program Manager/designee and Mental Health Unit
Manager will ensure annual performance reviews are conducted on all
mental health staff.
c. In facilities that do not have a Mental Health Unit Manager or a Lead
Counselor, the contract vendor/program manager/designee will
administratively supervise and complete annual performance appraisal
reports on the mental health staff. This is in collaboration with the deputy
warden of care and treatment or assistant superintendent.
4. At probation detention centers, to include the probation substance abuse
treatment center and integrated treatment facilities, the Mental Health Program
will come under the direct operational authority of the assistant superintendent.
5. The contract vendor will be involved in the interviewing and selection process
of the Mental Health Unit Manager positions. The hiring of mental health staff
is also subject to the approval of the warden/designee. All administrative
decisions regarding work schedules, job duties, use of leave, etc. are
established by the contract vendor, but are subject to the approval of the deputy
warden of care and treatment or designee.
6. The Mental Health Unit Manager will be responsible for the overall 24-hour
per day operation of the Mental Health Program under the direction of the
deputy warden of care and treatment. The Mental Health Unit Manager will
operate in accordance with department policies and procedures.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 6 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
7. The Mental Health Unit Manager will be responsible for the administrative
supervision of the staff. These staff positions and responsibilities include:
a. Mental Health Counselor or Mental Health Technician - Under the
administrative direction and supervision of the Mental Health Unit
Manager and clinical direction of a licensed psychologist, the Mental
Health Counselor/Mental Health Technician’s duties consist of but are not
limited to the following:
(1) Supportive Counseling.
(2) Psycho-educational groups.
(3) Liaison with security and other disciplines.
(4) Attendance at mental health staff meetings, case conferences, in
service training, treatment team meetings, suicide prevention
committee meetings and other trainings.
(5) Contribution to the establishment of a therapeutic environment.
(6) Individual or group psychotherapy.
(7) On-Call duties.
(8) Maintenance of required documentation.
(9) Crisis intervention.
(10) Case management as needed (with the assistance of multifunctional
correctional officers, when available).
(11) Discharge planning; and
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 7 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
(12) Certain clinical evaluations (if Privileged).
b. Multifunctional Correctional Officers, assigned to a mental health unit are
members of the Mental Health Treatment Team. These officers must
complete mandated mental health training.
c. Mental Health Multifunctional Correctional Officers are assigned to the
mental health unit, but primarily used for Levels III and IV Mental Health
Offenders. Under the administrative direction and supervision of the
Mental Health Unit Manager in collaboration with the deputy wardens of
care and treatment and security, and the clinical direction of a licensed
psychologist, the Mental Health Multifunctional Correctional Officer’s
duties consist of but are not limited to:
(1) Case management duties.
(2) Escort offenders to mental health appointments.
(3) Attendance at mental health staff meetings, case conferences, in-service
training, treatment team meetings, suicide prevention committee meetings
and other trainings.
(4) Maintenance of required documentation.
(5) Liaison with other security staff and disciplines.
(6) Attendance at required MFCO trainings.
(7) Serve as an offender advocate during disciplinary hearings.
(8) Investigation of grievances.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 8 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
(9) Complete Social Security Disability applications for appropriate
Mental Health Offenders; and
(10) Discharge Planning.
d. Activity Therapist - Under the administrative direction and supervision of
the Mental Health Unit Manager and clinical direction of a licensed
psychologist or the contract vendor’s activity therapist supervisor, the
Activity Therapist’s duties consist of but are not limited to:
(1) Completion of activity therapy assessments.
(2) Attendance at mental health staff meetings, case conferences, in
service training, treatment team meetings, suicide prevention
committee meetings and other trainings.
(3) Organization of group and individual activities.
(4) Establishment of individualized goals and objectives for each activity
to meet offender needs.
(5) Maintenance of required documentation.
(6) Conduct program evaluation.
(7) Maintenance of activity therapy equipment/supplies.
(8) Supervision of activity therapist volunteers/ interns.
(9) Conduct leisure counseling/education; and
(10) Attendance at required activity therapist trainings.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 9 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
e. Psychiatrist - Under the administrative direction of the Mental Health Unit
Manager and clinical direction of the Contract Vendor’s Chief Psychiatrist,
the psychiatrist duties consist of but are not limited to:
(1) Providing medication management.
(2) Conducting mental health emergency evaluations.
(3) Provide monthly consultation for APRN’s and mental health nurses.
(4) Conducting routine psychiatric evaluations in response to
referral/consultation requests.
(5) Making rounds in Level V Crisis Stabilization Units and Level V Acute
Care Units.
(6) Attendance at mental health staff meetings, case conferences, in-service
training, treatment team meetings, suicide prevention committee
meetings and other trainings.
(7) Attending Level III/IV Supportive Living Unit community meetings;
and
(8) Maintaining all required documentation.
f. Psychologist - Under the administrative direction of the Mental Health Unit
Manager, and the clinical direction of the Contract Vendor’s Chief Clinical
Director, the psychologist’s duties may include ~~b~~ ut are not limited to:
(1) Clinical oversight of the Mental Health Program.
(2) Facilitating and co-facilitating therapeutic groups.
(3) Providing individual psychotherapy.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 10 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
(4) Performing psychological testing and interpretation.
(5) Providing clinical consultation and supervision.
(6) Providing crisis intervention.
(7) Leading Treatment Team meetings.
(8) Performing diagnostic and other clinical evaluations.
(9) Attending Level III/IV Supportive Living Unit community meetings.
(10) Attendance at mental health staff meetings, case conferences, in
service training, treatment team meetings, suicide prevention
committee meetings and other trainings.
(11) Provide weekly oversight of offenders on suicide precaution.
(12) Maintaining all required documentation.
(13) Developing/implementing groups and involved in program
development.
(14) Participating in the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) [SOP
508.11] and Utilization Review (UR) [SOP 508.13] programs; and
(15) Conducting Acute Care Unit rounds.
g. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) - Under the administrative
supervision of the Mental Health Unit Manager and the clinical supervision
of a psychiatrist or the Chief Psychiatrist, APRN duties consist of but are
not limited to:
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 11 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
(1) Providing medication management.
(2) Conducting mental health emergency evaluations.
(3) Conducting routine psychiatric evaluations in response to
referral/consultation requests.
(4) Making rounds in Level V Crisis Stabilization Units and Level V Acute
Care Units.
(5) Participating in appropriate committee/administration meetings.
(6) Attending Level III/IV Supportive Living Unit community
meetings.
(7) Attending mental health staff meetings, in-services, and case
conferences.
(8) Participating in individual treatment team meetings/staffings; and
(9) Maintaining all required documentation.
h. Under the administrative direction of the Mental Health Unit Manager and
the Director of Nursing, and clinical consultation/supervision by the
psychologist/psychiatrist, Mental Health Nurse’s duties consist of but are
not limited to:
(1) Assisting psychiatrists by ensuring that medication orders are followed.
(2) Providing patient education regarding medication.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 12 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
(3) Managing mental health medication compliance including reporting
compliance behavior to the Mental Health Team, including
psychiatrists.
(4) Attendance at mental health staff meetings, case conferences, in-service
training, treatment team meetings, suicide prevention committee meetings
and other trainings.
(5) Serving as a liaison with physical health staff.
(6) Maintaining required documentation.
(7) Participating in CQI.
(8) Facilitating psycho-educational groups; and
(9) Providing weekly non-adherence documentation to the Mental Health
Unit Manager.
C. Levels of Mental Health Staffing:
1. The Vendor will provide appropriately credentialed staff in adequate numbers
commensurate with the established mission and level of mental health care
being provided at each mental health unit. The needs of the offender population
and the level of services being provided will determine the number and type of
staff for each Mental Health Program. The highest needs are found at
Specialized Behavioral Therapeutic Units, Under Death Sentence (UDS),
Specialized Management Unit (SMU), Crisis Stabilization Unit/Acute Care
Unit (CSU/ACU), Specialized Mental Health Treatment Units
(SMHTUs/TIER II, etc.) and Level IV Supportive Living Units. The next
priority is Level III Supportive Living Units. The lowest priority is Level II
outpatient programs.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 13 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
2. Central Office (GDC and Vendor) will review the staffing plan annually to
determine if the number and type of staff is adequate to perform the Mental
Health Services’ mission(s).
3. At all programs, the first full time equivalent (FTE) psychiatric position will
be filled by a psychiatrist. Any hours above that first full time equivalent (FTE)
may be filled by an APRN. General guidelines for staffing are as follows and
may be modified as needed by the Statewide Mental Health Director:
a. 1 FTE Mental Health Unit Manager.
b. 1 Clinical Director.
c. Mental health counselors, number of positions will be determined by the
following ratios:
(1) Level II Ratios:
a) There will be at least 1.0 FTE Mental Health Counselor per 75 level
II offenders at medium security facilities; and
b) There will be at least 1.0 FTE Mental Health Counselor per 60 level
II offenders at close security facilities.
(2) Level III Ratios:
a) There will be at least 1.0 FTE Mental Health Counselor per 50 level
III offenders at medium security facilities; and
b) There will be at least 1.0 FTE Mental Health Counselor per 40 level
III offenders at close security facilities.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 14 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
(3) Level IV Ratios:
There will be at least 1.0 FTE Mental Health Counselor per 25 level IV
offenders.
(4) Level V Ratios:
There will be at least 1.0 FTE Mental Health Counselor per 15
offenders housed in Crisis Stabilization Unit/Acute Care Units
(CSU/ACU); and
(5) SMHTU/TIER II Ratios:
There will be at least 1.0 FTE Mental Health Counselor per 20
offenders at designated SMHTU/TIER II facilities.
d. Mental health technicians’ ratios will be similar to the mental health
counselors but will be determined by their clinical supervisors.
e. Mental Health Nurses, number of positions will be determined by the
following ratios:
(1) Level II Ratios: 1:200.
(2) Level III/IV Ratios: 1:150; and
(3) There will be at least 6 mental health nurses (4 RNs and 2 LPNs) full
time equivalents (FTE) per Crisis Stabilization Unit/Acute Care Unit
(CSU/ACU).
i. Activity Therapists - Activity therapists will be assigned to Supportive
Living Unit Mental Health Programs and other programs according to
need. The highest needs are found at Specialized Behavioral Therapeutic
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 15 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
Units (UDS, SMU, CSU/ACU, SMHTUs/TIER II, etc.), Level IV
Supportive Living Units, elderly and physically challenged. The next
priority is Level III Supportive Living Units.
j. Multifunctional Correctional Officers - Multifunctional Correctional Officers
will be assigned to mental health units with a Supportive Living
Unit/SMHTUs/TIER IIs/Integrated Treatment Facilities/Juvenile Units.
k. Clerical Support - Each Mental Health Program will have adequate clerical
support.
4. Staffing for Diagnostic Programs:
a. Will have at least 1.0 FTE behavior specialist, mental health counselor
and/or mental health technician who is credentialed and Privileged to
perform test administration.
b. Will have at least 1.0 FTE additional mental health counselor for the female
diagnostic facility and 3 FTE additional mental health counselors and/or
mental health technicians for the male diagnostic facility.
c. Will have at least 0.5 FTEs additional psychologists for the female
diagnostic facility and 2 FTEs additional psychologists for the male
diagnostic facility.
d. Will have at least 0.5 additional psychiatric FTEs for the female diagnostic
facility and 1.0 additional psychiatric FTEs for the male diagnostic facility;
and
e. Staffing will be adjusted based on any significant changes in diagnostic
volume.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 16 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
5. Oversight:
a. The Mental Health Unit Manager will ensure that oversight procedures are
in place. The Mental Health Unit Manager will ensure that appropriate staff
utilizes the SCRIBE system to include, but not be limited to the following:
i. Mental Health caseload summary.
ii. Mental Health caseload by counselor.
iii. Diagnoses and levels of care.
iv. Mental Health staff schedules.
v. Treatment plan tickler; and
vi. Daily lock down.
D. Process for Resolution of Clinical Conflict:
1. The provision of treatment and habilitation services to offenders with mental
illness frequently present unique problems in regard to treatment, security, and
management issues. While mental health care providers maintain the freedom
to exercise their professional judgment, this must be done with regard for the
security and/or management of the institution. In the event professional
differences arise, the following steps will be followed to resolve the issue(s):
a. The first level of resolution will be with the treatment team or appropriate
members thereof in concert with other staff responsible for the issue(s)
involved.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|**Policy Name:** Mental Health Organization and Administration|
|**Policy Number:** 508.01|**Effective Date:** 7/27/2023|**Page Number:** 17 of 17|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner
|**Originating Division:**
Health Services Division
(Mental Health)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access
|
b. If the resolution cannot be achieved at the treatment team level, the Clinical
Director in concert with the Mental Health Unit Manager will resolve the
issues.
c. If the resolution cannot be achieved between the Clinical Director in
concert with the Mental Health Unit Manager, the regional Program
Development Consultant, the Chief Clinical Director, the Chief
Psychiatrist and/or Central Office management should be consulted, as
relevant and appropriate.
d. Clinical decisions are the sole province of the responsible mental health
practitioner and are not countermanded by non-clinicians.
E. Inter-departmental Collaboration:
1. Certain issues and concerns may require inter-departmental collaboration to
resolve.
a. Initial resolution should be pursued between the departmental managers.
b. As relevant and appropriate, the departmental managers will inform
institutional leadership.
c. As relevant and appropriate, the mental health departmental managers will
inform the Office of Health Services.
**V.** **Attachments:** None.
**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:** None.