SECTION 343.348. Supervision of High-Risk Suicidal Youth

(a) For residents classified as high risk for suicidal behavior, during non-program hours or any time a resident is separated from other residents, the following supervision requirements shall apply unless an exception in §343.446 and §343.638 of this title applies:

(1) the resident shall be under the continuous, uninterrupted visual supervision of a juvenile supervision officer;

(2) the juvenile supervision officer shall document his or her personal observations of the resident at intervals not to exceed 30 minutes; and

(3) if the juvenile supervision officer is providing the continuous, uninterrupted visual supervision from within a control room, the officer shall not simultaneously be responsible for the operation of the control room.

(b) The following documentation shall be maintained for residents classified as high risk for suicidal behavior:

(1) the date and time the resident was classified as high risk;

(2) name and title of the person who classified the resident as high risk;

(3) a description of the resident's behavior and/or factors that led up to the resident's classification as high risk;

(4) the name of each juvenile supervision officer providing supervision of the resident and the times during which each officer provided supervision;

(5) the location of the resident's supervision;

(6) the name and title of the qualified mental health professional, mental health provider, or physician who recommended reclassification of the resident to a lower risk level; and

(7) the date and time the resident was reclassified.

(c) Reclassification of a high-risk resident to a lower risk level shall not occur without a recommendation from a qualified mental health professional, mental health provider, or licensed physician.

(1) Prior to recommending reclassification, a qualified mental health professional, mental health provider, or licensed physician shall review the resident's current suicide risk and issue a written recommendation that addresses the following:

(A) the need to reclassify the resident's suicide risk level;

(B) the need for intervention strategies and/or services during the resident's stay at the facility; and

(C) the need for additional assessment, screening, or evaluation.

(2) The written recommendation of the qualified mental health professional, mental health provider, or licensed physician shall be maintained in the resident's record.

(3) The facility administrator or designee shall review the written recommendation of the qualified mental health professional, mental health provider, or licensed physician prior to reclassifying a high-risk resident to a lower risk level.

(4) Only the facility administrator or designee shall authorize the reclassification of a high-risk resident to a lower risk level.

Source Note: The provisions of this §343.348 adopted to be effective January 1, 2010, 34 TexReg 7095; amended to be effective September 1, 2013, 38 TexReg 4387; amended to be effective January 1, 2015, 39 TexReg 9243