Supervision, Training, and Other Staff Requirements

(A) Staff Supervision Requirements (1) Unlicensed or Not Independently Licensed Staff. All professionals who are unlicensed, who are in a profession without licensure, or who are not independently licensed or certified as a peer supervisor must receive direct and continuous supervision. Direct and continuous supervision may be provided using telehealth technology. (2) Independently Licensed and Certified Peer Supervisor Staff. All independently licensed professionals and certified peer supervisors must receive supervision in accordance with center policy. Supervision may be provided using telehealth technology. (3) The supervising clinician is primarily responsible for the care of the member. For any care delivered by a professional under supervision there must be documentation in the clinical chart that the chart was reviewed by the supervising clinician. (4) All supervision must be documented in files accessible for review by the MassHealth agency. Supervision notes must, at a minimum, contain information regarding frequency of supervision, format of supervision, supervisor’s signature and credentials, and general content of supervision session. (B) Staff Training. Centers must provide staff with specific training to provide services to members, including but not limited to training on (1) assessing and treating mental health disorders, which may include co-occurring substance use disorders including the clinical and psychosocial needs of the target population using evidence-based practices (e.g., staff treating children must have specialized training and experience in children’s services); (2) Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) to ensure the content and process of all services are informed by knowledge, respect for, and sensitivity to culture, and are provided in the individual’s preferred language and mode of communication. Training must include recognition and respect for the characteristics of the members served, such as behaviors, ideas, values, beliefs, and language; (3) maintaining a trauma-informed facility and upholding standards of trauma-informed care, including fostering trauma-informed environments; (4) currently available resources and services, including those in the community, and how to make appropriate referrals based on the needs of the member; (5) crisis prevention and de-escalation, risk management and safety planning, and conflict resolution; and (6) overdose prevention and response. (C) Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment (CANS). Any clinician who provides individual, group, or family therapy to members younger than 21 years of age must be certified every two years to administer the CANS, according to the process established by EOHHS. (D) Staff Professional Standards. Any staff of any discipline operating in the center must comport with the standards and scope of practice delineated in their professional licensure and be in good standing with their board of professional licensure, as applicable. Each center must notify the MassHealth agency of any staff who are censured by DPH or sanctioned by their board of licensure as set forth in 130 CMR 429.406. (E) Staffing Plan. Centers must maintain a staffing plan that includes policies and procedures to ensure all staffing and supervision requirements pursuant to 130 CMR 429.423.