704.7(b) LICENSURE Counselor Qualifications
704.7. Qualifications for the position of counselor.
(a) Drug and alcohol treatment projects shall be staffed by counselors proportionate to the staff/client and counselor/client ratios listed in 704.12 (relating to full-time equivalent (FTE) maximum client/staff and client/counselor ratios).
(b) Each counselor shall meet at least one of the following groups of qualifications:
(1) Current licensure in this Commonwealth as a physician.
(2) A Master's Degree or above from an accredited college with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other related field which includes a practicum in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting. If the practicum did not take place in a drug and alcohol setting, the individual's written training plan shall specifically address a plan to achieve counseling competency in chemical dependency issues.
(3) A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other related field and 1 year of clinical experience (a minimum of 1,820 hours) in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting. If a person's experience did not take place in a drug and alcohol setting, the individual's written training plan shall specifically address a plan to achieve counseling competency in chemical dependency issues.
(4) An Associate Degree from an accredited college with a major in chemical dependency, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing (with a clinical specialty in the human services) or other related field and 2 years of clinical experience (a minimum of 3,640 hours) in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting. If a person's experience was not in a drug and alcohol setting, the individual's written training plan shall specifically address a plan to achieve counseling competency in chemical dependency issues.
(5) Current licensure in this Commonwealth as a registered nurse and a degree from an accredited school of nursing and 1 year of counseling experience (a minimum of 1,820 hours) in a health or human service agency, preferably in a drug and alcohol setting. If a person's experience was not in a drug and alcohol setting, the individual's written training plan shall specifically address a plan to achieve counseling competency in chemical dependency issues.
(6) Full certification as an addictions counselor by a statewide certification body which is a member of a National certification body or certification by another state government's substance abuse counseling certification board.
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Observations
Based on the review of personnel records, the facility failed to ensure that each counselor met the qualifications for the position in one of three records reviewed.
Findings:
Six personnel records were reviewed on March 27, 2013. Three of the six were reviewed for the counselor position, #4, 5 and 6. In personnel record #6, the counselor did not meet the qualifications for the position of counselor based on the fact that they did not have the required one year clinical experience. An interview with the project director on March 27, 2013 confirmed the findings.
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Plan of Correction
This individual referenced will be immediately (3/28/13) converted to a Counselor Assistant. The Controller will have this individual sign a Counselor Assistant job description on this date. The week of 4/1/13 the Clinical Coordinator will arrange for the conducting of close supervision with the Counselor Assistant. These weekly supervision sessions will also demonstrate that at least one hour per week of direct observation is being conducted.
To prevent this error in interpreting the required qualifications from occuring in the future, the following steps will be taken. The Executive Director, who screens and selects all counselor appications, for potential interview and job offers. The Executive Director will amend the company policy that states that the Division of Licensing will be contacted regarding any questionable qualifications of a potential counselor prior to hiring. This would include an acceptable human service degree with valid transcript; and approvable type and length of experience. This task will be the responsibility of the Executive Director and will be in effect 4/16/13. |