7308 FIELD PRACTICUM SUPERVISION AND ACTIVITIES

7308.1 Completion of the classroom work described in Section 7307 is a pre-requisite to participating in the eighty (80) hour field practicum, conducted in accordance with this section and with Department field practicum guidelines.7308.2 The purpose of the field practicum is to provide candidates with an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge acquired from the classroom work in a mental health service setting.7308.3 The field practicum site shall be a certified Mental Health Rehabilitation Services (MHRS) provider. The field practicum site shall identify a qualified mental health practitioner to serve as the field practicum supervisor.7308.4 The candidate's field practicum shall be supervised by a qualified mental health professional, who has completed peer specialist supervisory orientation offered by the Department.7308.5 The field practicum supervisor shall:- (a) Ensure that the consumer(s) (and his or her family if appropriate) receiving peer support services delivered by the candidate during the field practicum has consented to the delivery of such services by a candidate for certification as a peer specialist;

- (b) Ensure that peer support services delivered by the candidate during the field practicum are consistent with the Plan of Care for the consumer receiving the services; and

- (c) Ensure that the candidate has an opportunity to participate in treatment planning and care coordination activities during the field practicum.7308.6 The field practicum supervisor shall maintain a log of all supervisory meetings with a candidate in accordance with the OCFA's guidelines.7308.7 The field practicum supervisor shall provide the following supervision to a candidate during the field practicum:- (a) A minimum of one (1) hour of face-to-face supervision with each candidate once a week with additional support as needed or requested;

- (b) Establish the field practicum objectives and guidelines for the candidate within the first week of the practicum;

1. (c) Supervise the candidate throughout the field practicum overseeing the full range of field practice;
2. (d) Document all supervision activities in accordance with the OCFA's guidelines; and
3. (e) Maintain regular contact with the candidate and OCFA, as needed, relevant to progress in achieving field practicum objectives.7308.8 During the field practicum, the candidate shall at a minimum complete the following:- (a) Orientation to the field practicum site and its policies and procedures regarding the delivery of services;
4. (b) Shadow a mental health staff during work with consumers on a significant activity, such as intake appointments, home visits, accompanying a consumer to court, medical appointments or related activities;
5. (c) Work directly with mental health consumers or the parent/legal guardian or foster parent, as applicable; and
6. (d) Participate as a full member of the interdisciplinary team providing services.7308.9 After the candidate successfully completes the field practicum, the field practicum supervisor shall complete, sign, and submit the Practicum Verification Form to the OCFA within five (5) days.7308.10 The field practicum supervisor shall communicate regularly with the OCFA during the field practicum and notify OCFA of any concerns about successful completion of the field practicum in advance. OCFA will work with the field practicum supervisor and the candidate to develop and implement interventions to address those concerns.7308.11 The Field Practicum Supervisor shall notify OCFA, in writing, if the candidate fails to complete the field practicum.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 11096 (December 23, 2011); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 7002 (July 11, 2014); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 10674 (September 4, 2020).