N.J. Admin. Code § 10:161B-1.9

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 10:161B-1.9 - Qualifications and responsibilities of the substance abuse counseling staff

(a) Every facility shall ensure that the ratios of substance abuse counseling staff are maintained so that 50 percent of the staff are LCADC or CADC or other licensed health professionals doing work of an alcohol or drug counseling nature within their scope of practice by June 1, 2012, and at all times thereafter. The remaining 50 percent of substance abuse counseling staff will be considered counselor-interns (formerly referred to as "substance abuse counselors in training") who are actively working toward LCADC or CADC status, or toward another health professional license that includes work of an alcohol or drug counseling nature within its scope of practice. The director of substance abuse counseling must maintain an active client caseload if the director of substance abuse counseling is to be counted in the above ratios.

1. Each substance abuse counselor shall be either an LCADC or a CADC or another licensed health professional doing work of an alcohol or drug counseling nature within their scope of practice.

i. A CADC shall work under the supervision of an LCADC, or another health professional licensed to supervise work of an alcohol or drug counseling nature within their scope of practice.

ii. A CADC cannot diagnose substance abuse without the signature approval of an LCADC or other clinical supervisor approved to do so.

2. Substance abuse counseling staff without LCADC or CADC status, or who are not other health professionals licensed to do work of an alcohol or drug counseling nature within their scope of practice, shall function as counselor-interns, and shall:

i. Be enrolled in a course of study leading to CADC or LCADC status, or to another health professional license that includes work of an alcohol and drug counseling nature within its scope of practice, without regard to changes in employment, with progress towards certification or licensing on file, reviewed by the facility at least semiannually and documented; and

ii. Be trained, evaluated and receiving continuing formal clinical supervision by the director of substance abuse counseling or designee, pursuant to the clinical supervision rules of the State health professional licensing board for the course of study in which they are enrolled: the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners (BMFTE) for licensed marriage and family therapists; the BMFTE's Professional Counselor Examiners Committee for licensed professional counselors; the BMFTE's Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee for LCADC and CADC; the State Board of Psychological Examiners for licensed psychologists; and the State Board of Social Work Examiners for licensed clinical social workers.

(b) Counseling staff employed in an outpatient treatment facility subsequent to June 1, 2009 shall have three years from the date of employment to obtain LCADC or CADC status or another health professional license that includes work of an alcohol or drug counseling nature within its scope of practice.

(c) Only staff possessing the appropriate clinical background and educational qualifications from the appropriate clinical discipline may provide the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of clients with co-occurring disorders.

(d) Each substance abuse counselor shall be responsible for the following:

1. Assessing the counseling needs of the clients;

2. Assessing clients using the ASI or other standardized clinical interview tool, and diagnosing clients for substance use disorder using the DSM-5;

3. Determining the appropriate level of care according to ASAM Criteria ;

4. Obtaining previous records that are relevant to the current treatment episode;

5. Unless clinically contraindicated, collaborating with the client to develop a written treatment plan that includes goals and measurable objectives, and is client centered, recovery oriented;

i. The director of substance abuse counseling shall develop, monitor and provide the client and treatment team a written schedule to update each client treatment plan(s) in order to ensure clients' needs are met;

6. Providing the substance abuse counseling services specified in the client treatment plan;

7. Reviewing clients throughout the treatment episode according to the ASAM Criteria, to determine the need for continued services, transfer, or discharge/transfer;

8. Reviewing and, where necessary, revising the client treatment plan to address ongoing problems;

9. Developing a client discharge/transfer plan to ensure movement to the appropriate levels of care;

10. Contact, case consultation if necessary, and coordination with referral sources, (for example, mental health treatment providers, criminal justice agencies, schools, employers, DCPP);

11. Participating as a member of a multidisciplinary team for assigned clients;

12. Providing active case consultation; and

13. Documenting all counseling and education services, assessments, reassessments, referrals and follow-up in the client's clinical record, and providing appropriate signatures and dating of such entries, including those made in electronic records.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:161B-1.9

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 2791(a), effective 12/19/2016