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 upon the review of employee records, the facility failed to ensure that each counselor met the qualifications for the position in one of one employee record reviewed.
The findings include:
One employee record requiring documentation for the qualifications for the position of counselor was reviewed on June 22, 2015 as part of an administrative review.
The facility failed to ensure the required educational qualifications were met for employee #4.
Employee # 4 was hired as a counselor on May 5, 2015 based on a Bachelor's degree in Gender Studies; which is non-qualifying. Additionally, employee #4 lacks the required clinical experience.
The findings were discussed with facility staff during the interview process.
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Plan of Correction
The Clinical Supervisor met with this staff on July 1, 2015 to review the new requirements under the Counselor Assistant job description. The new job description was given to this staff on this date and a signed copy will be in the personnel file for future review.
Her weekly supervision schedule is in place to start August 5, 2015 following her vacation.
She has been asked to submit documentation of completed college courses (is in a Masters of Social Work program now) as each course is completed. The documentation for this will be in the D&A Training Manual.
To prevent this from happening again, the Clinical Supervisor will obtain a list of appropriate degrees within the next 3 weeks.
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