Qualified Mental Health Professional

Description: Qualified Mental Health Professional services are direct activities related to the delivery of community-based services and are designated in and required by an individual service plan. Activities include monitoring of behavioral health services, the implementation of behavioral procedures for acquisition of replacement skills and reduction of problematic behaviors, session note collection and display (e.g., graphics) authorized by a recipient's individual service plan and assist the licensed clinician in training of caregivers and/or staff.

Behavior assistant services are often designed for recipients for whom traditional residential habilitation services have been documented unsuccessful or are inappropriate for health or safety reasons and for children who require behavioral services, but for whom providing services in the family home will likely be more effective and least restrictive. Services should be provided for a limited time and discontinued as the support persons gain skills and abilities to assist the recipient to function in more independent and less challenging ways. Behavioral assistant services for children should supplement and support, transfer stimulus control, and generalize behavior change, the acquisition and reduction plans designed and implemented by the primary source of services for children, the education system.

Major Duties: Qualified Mental Health Professionals working with Winners Circle Group of Texas are expected to abide by the policies and procedures set forth by the organization and in accordance with the employee agreement. The overriding goal of Winners Circle Group of Texas is to enhance the autonomy and quality of life of individuals, their families, and others who support them. Each Winners Circle client has a behavior support plan; it is the responsibility of the QMHP to work with caregivers and/or staff to fully implement strategies within this plan and achieve the desired outcomes. Specific types of support include assisting in restructuring environments and activities to support the individual's behavior, teaching skills that allow the individual to communicate his or her needs and/or function more effectively and working with caregivers to manage consequences for the individual's behavior to maximize reinforcement for positive behavior under the supervision of the licensed clinician.

QMHP do not provide babysitting or respite services.

Responsibilities: QMHP’s working with Winners Circle are required to do the following.

1. Review behavior plans and other relevant (e.g., instructional) materials developed by licensed clinicians for clients to facilitate consistent implementation and monitor outcomes appropriately.
2. Complete daily progress notes, data collection and other reports (related to implementation of the behavior intervention plan) as needed by the funding source.

1. Support the family and other caregivers in implementing the behavioral support strategies in the plan and collecting data.

1. Assist in restructuring environments and activities to support the individual's behavior.

1. Teach skills that allow the individual to communicate his or her needs and/or function more effectively.

1. Work with caregivers to manage consequences for the individual's behavior to maximize reinforcement for positive behavior under the supervision of the behavior analyst.

1. Provide training to caregivers/natural supports on procedures outlined in the behavior intervention plan.

1. Communicate openly with behavior treatment team members to promote desired

outcomes.

Documentation Requirements: Prior to providing behavior health services through Winners Circle, QMHP’s must complete the required paperwork detailed in the policies and procedures and new employee checklist (e.g., background checks, application, copies of identification). Documentation of services involves collecting data on the individual's behavior and completing and submitting daily progress notes that are directly relevant to the goals and strategies incorporated in the behavior intervention plans, as well as any records requested by the license clinician (e.g., in preparation for peer reviews). Note: the daily progress notes are reviewed by the licensed clinician and summarized in quarterly and annual reports, as required by the funders.

Supervision: All services are overseen by the Licensed Clinician, Program Manager, and/or Regional Coordinator. QMHP’s receive regular oversight as indicated by the behavior plan (i.e., at least every other week or as needed, involving direct observation and review of data) from the license clinician and/or program manager supervising the cases to which they are assigned.

Hours/Shifts: Hours are variable based on the needs of the individual, family, and service providers, as well as the focus of intervention (e.g., routines targeted for intervention). QMHP’s must stay within their allotted hours authorized by the funder (e.g., Medicaid, insurance company). It is recommended that QMHP limit their service to no more than 40 hours per week to maintain the quality of their services.

Limitations: An individual shall receive no more than 4 hours (16 units) of skills training and development service per day unless prior approval is given by the funding source and Clinical Director. In most cases, a unit is defined as a 15-minute time and/or one hour, or portion thereof; however, units are defined according to the funding source.

Providing this service at the same time and date as another service such as behavior analysis, OT, and SLP is dependent on the funding source and should not occur without prior permission from the Regional Coordinator. QMHP’s and licensed clinician cannot exceed a total eight hours per day (combining both of their hours) with any given client without prior approval from a Clinical Director and the funding source.

Place of Service: Billable QMHP services will be provided in the settings that services are recommended per the individual's behavior plan and must follow the individuals funding source guidelines. In all cases, QMHP services must also be provided in the setting(s) relevant to the behavior problems being addressed.

Qualifications: Providers of this service must have at least:

• Completed a standardized training curriculum
• Demonstrated competency in the work to be performed
• Obtained one of the following:
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum number of hours that are equivalent to a major in psychology, social work, medicine, nursing, rehabilitation, counseling, sociology, human growth and development, physician assistant, gerontology, special education, educational psychology, early childhood education, or early childhood intervention
• A license as a registered nurse (RN) staff administering the assessment instruments must have documentation of current certification in the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment (CANS) or the Adult Needs and Strengths Assessment (ANSA). Certification must be updated annually through an approved entity. An individual who possesses any of the following licenses is considered a Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA) and is automatically certified as a QMHP-CS:
• Physician
• Physician Assistant * Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
• Psychologist * Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) A QMHP-CS must be clinically supervised by another QMHP-CS. If a QMHP-CS is clinically supervised by another QMHP-CS, the supervising QMHP-CS must be clinically supervised by an LPHA.

Additional Skills: QMHP’s working with Winners Circle must possess additional skills to be successful in their role. These include strong verbal and written communication, time management and organizational skills, problem-solving, and competency in using a computer to access information and navigate the on-line system. They must also have the social skills to work collaboratively with families and service providers.

Training Requirements: The provider is responsible for all training requirements (Required training courses vary by state). Proof of annual or required updated training shall be maintained on file for review.