65C-33.003. Child Welfare Pre-Service Training

(1) The Department-approved State of Florida Child Welfare Pre-Service Training Program curriculum is primarily comprised of classroom instruction, but may also include on-line learning and agency-specific field activities. Department approval shall be based on whether the curriculum meets the standards set forth in Section 402.40(5), F.S.

(2) The pre-service classroom instruction involves the delivery and facilitation of curricula by a child welfare trainer in the classroom.

(a) At the discretion of the training entity, some pre-service classes may include guest speakers as subject matter experts regarding relevant topics; however, although agency or area-specific information may be added to the curriculum, nothing in the existing, Department-approved curriculum may be deleted or revised.

(b) With the exception of interns as referenced in subsection 65C-33.003(6), F.A.C., a training entity or employing agency may arrange for non-employed individuals to participate in pre-service classroom instruction; however, these individuals shall not be administered the waiver test or post-test.

(c) Pre-service classroom instruction may be observed by individuals involved in the administration, delivery, design, or oversight of pre-service training for purposes of assessing the effectiveness of training delivery, or evaluating the need for enhancement of curriculum design.

1. Advanced notice of the observation may be provided, but is not required.

2. No more than two (2) individuals shall observe the same class session at the same time, and the observer(s) shall neither disrupt the class nor interact with the trainer(s) or class participants at any time while the class is in session.

(3) There is a 100% mandatory attendance requirement for all pre-service classroom instruction, absent special circumstances documented and accommodated by the employing agency or the training entity.

(a) It is the responsibility of the employing agency to ensure that each trainee attends and completes all of the pre-service classroom, on-line and field instruction required for his or her position classification.

(b) Any missed training classes, modules or material must be completed by the trainee prior to the trainee taking the post-test.

(4) Field Activities.

(a) If field activities are provided to trainees during the pre-service training, the employing agency shall ensure the activities are supervised and reviewed by certified Child Welfare Professionals.

(b) At the discretion of the supervisor, field activities may include opportunities for the trainee to shadow or be mentored by experienced certified staff, and may take place in the agency unit or in the field, as long as the trainee is accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a certified Child Welfare Professional at all times.

(5)(a) Under no circumstances shall a trainee carry a caseload, be assigned responsibility for any cases, conduct unaccompanied or unsupervised home visits, perform unsupervised home studies or interviews of children or adults, be ultimately responsible for any assessment of risk, or otherwise have primary responsibility for any investigation, child, family or case, until he or she successfully completes the pre-service training and passes the post-test.

(b) In order to meet each trainee’s need for a variety of opportunities in the practical application of concepts learned in pre-service training, a trainee may be assigned as a secondary worker in the FSFN or other Department-approved system to no more than four (4) active cases during his or her pre-service training, for the sole purpose of performing and practicing newly-learned skills while accompanied and supervised at all times by a certified Child Welfare Professional. Although assigned as a secondary worker, the trainee shall not bear ultimate responsibility for any aspect of the case. Every piece of casework completed by the trainee shall be reviewed and approved by either the primary worker on the case, the supervisor of the primary worker on the case or other certified Child Welfare Professional, prior to the piece of casework being included and saved in the active case file or FSFN case record.

(6) Interns. Interns may be utilized to assist child welfare staff in the performance of their job duties. Interns are permitted to seek certification and are subject to the same restrictions and requirements as employees.

Rulemaking Authority 402.40 FS. Law Implemented 402.40 FS. History–New 10-14-10, Amended 12-24-15.