30:1-12b - Unannounced site visits to State psychiatric facilities - New Jersey Statutes

30:1-12b.  Unannounced site visits to State psychiatric facilities2. a. The Commissioner of Human Services shall designate staff who are not employed at a State psychiatric facility listed in R.S.30:1-7 to conduct unannounced site visits to randomly check staffing on various shifts at a State psychiatric facility, at least three times during a calendar year.  During the site visit, the designated staff shall review: the daily operation of the facility, including, the actual deployment of clinical treatment staff and nursing direct care staff  on various shifts to determine whether the actual deployment of staff  meets the documented staffing plan of the facility; the system for reporting any information concerning alleged patient abuse or professional misconduct  as provided for in P.L.1997, c.70 (C.30:4-3.15 et seq.); the operation of  therapeutic programs or activities for patients; and any other aspect of the facility which the commissioner deems appropriate.

b.  The commissioner shall provide and implement, on an ongoing basis,  surveillance procedures designed to identify problems related to patient care at a State psychiatric facility.  These procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the use of security cameras and the use of persons to perform covert investigations of the daily operation of the facility.  Persons performing covert investigations shall assume roles which do not suggest their actual function.

L.1997,c.68,s.2.