CLASS SPECIFICATION

S U P E R V I S O R Y T H E R A P I S T

DEFINITION OF CLASS:

This is first-level supervision and program management over professional clinical counseling work, providing direction to a group of professional therapist in the implementation of clinical aspects of a specific service. Contacts are with staff, department managers, County Government and community agency representatives, clients served and their families, for the purpose of exchanging information, making referrals, planning-coordinating program work and services, and resolving operational problems. This class of work may entail some interaction with clients but it is incidental to the primary focus of the supervisor/program management work performed.

An employee in this class provides administrative and clinical supervision to professional therapists and related staff in the day-to-day management of therapeutic program activities. Work is performed under the general direction of a higher level administrator. The employee alone, or in consultation with the supervisor, develops the deadlines, projects and work to be done. An employee in this class has the authority and responsibility for making recommendations and decisions in the areas of procedures, implementation of policy and the daily operations of assigned staff, to include regular participation in a variety of personnel matters. Guidelines governing the work include professional psychotherapy and counseling principles, methods and theories; diagnostic and evaluative standards of practice, i.e., Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Federal, State and County laws and regulations; and established departmental policies and procedures. The employee has considerable latitude for independent judgment and action. Major deviations from existing policy require approval of higher level administrators. The complexity of the work is reflected in the varied and wide range of duties performed and the number of issues, factors, circumstances and alternatives that must be considered when making a decision. The employee impacts the therapeutic program supervised by providing direct input to higher level management in such areas as staffing needs assessments, planning the implementation of new or modified service delivery mechanisms, coordination of service delivery with other services, program effectiveness assessments, and development of budget projections. Work is primarily sedentary, is performed in a variety of clinical settings (e.g., crisis center, mental health center, health clinic, detention center); and involves occasional exposure to some risk as a result of aggressive and unpredictable behavior from clients in the workplace. Work may involve evening/weekend/holiday or rotating shift work.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)

Supervises day-to-day program operations; plans, assigns, reviews and evaluates the work of professional therapists and other subordinate staff within the assigned program area.
Provides clinical expertise to staff regarding difficult case resolution and operational problems within the delivery system.
Develops and implements program activities and services, including training and educational activities.
Assures consistent application of and compliance with Federal, State and County regulations, policies and procedures.
Establishes and maintains liaison with other departments and governmental and private agencies to resolve systemic problems and to develop and coordinate client services.
Evaluates program service areas; analyzes program data; submits activity reports; provides input/projections for budget submissions; recommends ways and means for improving service delivery and cost effectiveness.
Develops, interprets and monitors quality assurance standards; plans, recommends and executes quality initiatives related to mental health standards.
Serves on intra-interagency committees and task forces; develops and presents program-specific perspective related to mental health treatment and services.
Provides direct psychotherapy and clinical counseling as necessary to meet program needs and/or provide clinical training.
Speaks before community, civic, and other public groups concerning available programs and services.
Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: Considerable (3 years) post licensure professional clinical counseling experience.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work or a related field appropriate to the area of specialization required by the position.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of and ability to apply philosophies, practices, policies and outcomes of the most generally accepted scientifically supported models of treatment, recovery, prevention and continuing care for psychological, emotional, mental, addiction and/or substance-related disorders and conditions.

Knowledge of the established diagnostic criteria, treatment modalities and placement criteria within the continuum of care for psychological, emotional, mental, addiction and/or substance-related disorders and conditions.
Knowledge of and ability to assess and treat psychopathology, emotional and mental disorders, personality disorders and/or alcohol and drug disorders and the accompanying clinical dynamics appropriate to the program assignment.
Knowledge of models and theories applicable to psychological, emotional, mental, addiction and/or substance disorders and conditions.
Knowledge of medical and pharmacological resources in the treatment of psychological, emotional, mental, addiction and/or substance disorders and conditions.
Knowledge of methods of measuring treatment outcomes.
Knowledge of Federal, State and local policies and procedures governing the delivery of treatment services, ethics, confidentiality and clinical responsibility.
Knowledge of clinical supervisory methods and techniques.
Considerable knowledge of the techniques associated with, and the ability to lead case consultation meetings which include case review, video taped and/or live supervision of client therapy sessions.
Ability to conduct performance evaluations and implement personnel procedures.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, co-workers, public and private sector organizations, community groups and the general public; to provide effective consultation and feedback to a range of professional and paraprofessional staff, students and volunteers, and representatives of public and private agencies in planning and coordinating client treatment.
Ability to provide clinical supervision, guidance and assistance to professional and paraprofessional counselors and volunteers.
Ability to prepare complete client records and narrative and statistical reports.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
Ability to attend meetings or perform other assignments at locations outside the office.

LICENSE:
Employees in this class have a mandatory licensure requirement, as cited in COMAR which contains regulations governing the practice of clinical counseling/psychotherapy. One of the following licenses, issued by the State of Maryland, must be held and maintained by the employee:
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapy (LCMFT)
Licensed Clinical Alcohol Drug Counselor (LCADC)
Licensed Certified Social Worker/Clinical (LCSW-C)
Certification as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse/Psychiatric Mental Health (APRN-PMH)
Licensed Psychologist

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:

Individuals appointed to a position in this class will be required to serve a probationary period of twelve months and, if promoted to a position in this class, will be required to serve a probationary period of six months. Performance will be carefully evaluated during the probationary period. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL GROUP: Core Exam with Drug/Alcohol Screen

Class Established: September 1976
Revised: March 1981
January 1988
May 1996(M)
June 2001
June 2003(M)
July, 2008

Formerly Titled: Therapist III
Medical Protocol Revised (7/08) to include "Drug/Alcohol" screen