10A N.C. Admin. Code 27G.0104

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 9, November 1, 2024

Section 27G .0104 - STAFF DEFINITIONS

The following credentials and qualifications apply to staff described in this Subchapter:

(1) "Associate Professional (AP)" within the mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services (mh/dd/sas) system of care means an individual who is either a:

(a) graduate of a college or university with a masters degree in a human service field with less than one year of full-time, post-graduate degree accumulated mh/dd/sa experience with the population served, or a substance abuse professional with less than one year of full-time, post-graduate degree accumulated supervised experience in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling. Supervision shall be provided by a qualified professional with the population served until the individual meets one year of experience. The supervisor and the employee shall develop an individualized supervision plan upon hiring. The parties shall review the plan annually;

(b) graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in a human service field with less than two years of full-time, post-bachelor's degree accumulated mh/dd/sa experience with the population served, or a substance abuse professional with less than two years of full-time, post-bachelor's degree accumulated supervised experience in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling. Supervision shall be provided by a qualified professional with the population served until the individual meets two years of experience. The supervisor and the employee shall develop an individualized supervision plan upon hiring. The parties shall review the plan annually;

(c) graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field other than human services with less than four years of full-time, post-bachelor's degree accumulated mh/dd/sa experience with the population served, or a substance abuse professional with less than four years of full-time, post-bachelor's degree accumulated supervised experience in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling. Supervision shall be provided by a qualified professional with the population served until the individual meets four years of experience. The supervisor and the employee shall develop an individualized supervision plan upon hiring. The parties shall review the plan annually; or

(d) registered nurse who is licensed to practice in the State of North Carolina by the North Carolina Board of Nursing with less than four years of full-time accumulated experience in mh/dd/sa with the population served. Supervision shall be provided by a qualified professional with the population served until the individual meets four years of experience. The supervisor and the employee shall develop an individualized supervision plan upon hiring. The parties shall review the plan annually.

(2) "Certified clinical supervisor (CCS)" means an individual who is certified as such by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board.

(3) "Certified criminal justice addictions professional (CCJP)" means an individual who is certified as such by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board.

(4) "Certified alcohol and drug counselor" means an individual who is certified as such by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board.

(5) "Certified substance abuse prevention specialist" means an individual who is certified as such by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board.

(6) "Clinical" means having to do with the treatment or habilitation of a client.

(7) "Clinical staff member" means a qualified professional or associate professional who provides treatment or habilitation to a client.

(8) "Clinical or professional supervision" means regularly scheduled assistance by a qualified professional or associate professional to a staff member who is providing direct, therapeutic intervention to a client or clients. The purpose of clinical supervision is to ensure that each client receives treatment or habilitation that is consistent with accepted standards of practice and the needs of the client.

(9) "Clinical social worker" means a social worker who is licensed as such by the N.C. Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.

(10) "Direct Support Professional" means an individual who has a GED or high school diploma hired to provide intellectual disability, developmental disability, or traumatic brain injury services. Supervision shall be provided by a qualified professional with experience with the population served. The supervisor and the employee shall develop an individualized supervision plan upon hiring and shall review it annually thereafter.

(11) "Director" means the individual who is responsible for the operation of the facility.

(12) "Family Partner" means an individual hired to provide direct engagement, support, and advocacy to the family of each child and adolescent served in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility. A Family Partner shall meet the criteria for a Paraprofessional as defined in this Rule, have lived experience as a primary caregiver for a child or adolescent with a mental health disorder, a substance use disorder, intellectual disorder, or developmental disability. A Family Partner shall achieve certification as a Family Peer Specialist by the National Federation of Families for Children with Mental Illness within 18 months of hire and shall maintain active certification while in this role.

(13) "Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS)" means an individual who is licensed as such by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board.

(14) "Licensed clinician" means an individual with clinical licensure awarded by the State of North Carolina, as a physician, licensed psychologist, licensed psychological associate, licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, or licensed clinical addictions specialist. "Licensed clinician" also includes an individual with clinical licensure and certification as a certified clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric mental health advanced practice, or a certified nurse practitioner in psychiatric mental health advanced practice.

(15) "Licensed Clinical Mental Health counselor (LCMHC)" means a counselor who is licensed as such by the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors.

(16) "Nurse" means a person licensed to practice in the State of North Carolina either as a registered nurse or as a licensed practical nurse.

(17) "Paraprofessional" within the mh/dd/sas system of care means an individual who, with the exception of staff providing respite services or personal care services, has a GED or high school diploma; those employed prior to November 1, 2001 to provide a mh/dd/sa service are not required to have a GED or high school diploma. Supervision shall be provided by a qualified professional or associate professional with the population served. The supervisor and the employee shall develop an individualized supervision plan upon hiring. The parties shall review the plan annually.

(18) "Psychiatrist" means an individual who is licensed to practice medicine in the State of North Carolina and who has completed a training program in psychiatry accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

(19) "Psychologist" means an individual who is licensed to practice psychology in the State of North Carolina as either a licensed psychologist or a licensed psychological associate.

(20) "Qualified client record manager" means an individual who is a graduate of a curriculum accredited by the Council on Medical Education and Registration of the American Health Information Management Association and who is currently registered or accredited by the American Health Information Management Association.

(21) "Qualified professional" means, within the mh/dd/sas system of care either:

(a) an individual who holds a license, provisional license, or certificate issued by the governing board regulating a human service profession, including a registered nurse who is licensed to practice in the State of North Carolina by the North Carolina Board of Nursing who also has four years of full-time accumulated experience in mh/dd/sa with the population served;

(b) a graduate of a college or university with a Masters degree in a human service field and has one year of full-time, pre- or post-graduate degree accumulated supervised mh/dd/sa experience with the population served, or a substance abuse professional who has one year of full-time, pre- or post-graduate degree accumulated supervised experience in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling;

(c) a graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in a human service field and has two years of full-time, pre- or post-bachelor's degree accumulated supervised mh/dd/sa experience with the population served, or a substance abuse professional who has two years of full-time, pre- or post-bachelor's degree accumulated supervised experience in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling; or

(d) a graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field other than human services and has four years of full-time, pre- or post-bachelor's degree accumulated supervised mh/dd/sa experience with the population served, or a substance abuse professional who has four years of full-time, pre- or post-bachelor's degree accumulated supervised experience in alcoholism and drug abuse counseling.

(22) "Qualified substance abuse prevention professional (QSAPP)" within the mh/dd/sas system of care, means either:

(a) a graduate of a college or university with a masters degree in a human service field and has one year of full-time, post-graduate degree accumulated supervised experience in substance abuse prevention;

(b) a graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in a human service field and has two years of full-time, post-bachelor's degree accumulated supervised experience in substance abuse prevention;

(c) a graduate of a college or university with a bachelor's degree in a field other than human services and has four years of full-time, post bachelor's degree accumulated supervised experience in substance abuse prevention; or

(d) a substance abuse prevention professional who is certified as a Certified Prevention Specialist by the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board.

10A N.C. Admin. Code 27G .0104

Authority G.S. 122C-3; 122C-25; 122C-26; 143B-147;
Eff. May 11, 1996;
Temporary Amendment Eff. January 1, 2001;
Temporary Amendment Expired October 13, 2001;
Temporary Amendment Eff. November 1, 2001;
Amended Eff. February 1, 2009; October 1, 2004; April 1, 2003'
Temporary Amendment Eff. March 1, 2019;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. July 20,
2019;
Temporary Amendment Expired Eff. December 10, 2019.

Authority G.S. 122C-3; 122C-25; 122C-26; 143B-147; S.L, 2017-32;
Eff. May 11, 1996;
Temporary Amendment Eff. January 1, 2001;
Temporary Amendment Expired October 13, 2001;
Temporary Amendment Eff. November 1, 2001;
Amended Eff. February 1, 2009; October 1, 2004; April 1, 2003;
Temporary Amendment Eff. March 1, 2019;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. July 20, 2019;
Temporary Amendment Expired Eff. December 10, 2019.

Amended by North Carolina Register Volume 38, Issue 15, February 1, 2024 effective 1/1/2024.