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 three of nine records reviewed.
Eleven personnel records were reviewed on February 13, 2017, nine of which were identified as counselors.
Employee #6 was promoted to a counselor position on November 7, 2016. A review of the employee ' s resume indicated that she did not have the required one year of clinical experience needed for the counselor position.
Employee #10 was promoted to a counselor position on December 16, 2016. A review of the employee ' s resume indicated that she did not have the required one year of clinical experience needed for the counselor position.
Employee #11 was hired as a counselor on June 27, 2016. A review of the employee ' s resume indicated that she did not have the required one year of clinical experience needed for the counselor position.
These findings were reviewed with facility staff during the licensing process.
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Plan of Correction
The Chief Executive Officer reviewed with all Clinical Supervisory staff the qualifications of a Counselor Assistant (704.8),Supervision of a Counselor assistant (704.9)and the promotion of Counselor Assistant to Counselor (704.10) per the Staffing Requirements Licensing Regulations (704). This process was completed during the regularly scheduled Admin. Meeting the Thursday following Licensing. The Quality Management Officer will be directly responsible for the oversight of this process in the future. She will directly report to the CEO who will have the ultimate responsibility to make sure all Counselor Assistants met the outlined qualifications before being promoted to the position of Counselor. |