JOB TITLE: PROFESSIONAL HEALTH MONITORING PROGRAM SPECIALIST

JOB CODE: 38480

DEFINITION: This is specialized professional work involving the provision of intervention and referral services to Department of State licensed professionals suffering from substance use and/or mental health disorders.

An employee in this job performs case management and monitoring services for individuals enrolled in the Professional Health Monitoring Program and serves as a consultant to Department of State licensing boards that have impaired professional provisions in their practice act. Work includes monitoring the enrollment, participation, and compliance of participants in drug and alcohol and mental health recovery programs; determining the types of evaluations that licensees require; developing and maintaining referral agreements with evaluators and treatment providers; analyzing participant evaluations and treatment plans for appropriateness based on the nature and severity of the licensee’s condition; reviewing and analyzing drug and alcohol test results, work performance reports, support group attendance records, and applicable peer assistance program reports to ensure licensee’s compliance with the terms and conditions of consent agreements and board orders; investigating suspected drug and alcohol or mental health relapses and other program violations; recommending appropriate action for noncompliant program participants, to include program extensions or legal action; and coordinating treatment plan modifications with peer assistance programs. Work also involves developing and recommending changes to operational policies and procedures; recommending the frequency and type of drug and alcohol testing necessary for each licensee; determining whether and under what conditions a program participant may return to professional practice; testifying at hearings about program procedures, program participant violations, and actions taken; advising Department attorneys on acceptable settlement terms in licensee disciplinary cases; and conducting periodic comprehensive reviews of program participant case files to ensure that program requirements are met. Work requires regular contact with prospective and current program participants, employers, peer assistance programs, evaluators, treatment providers, drug testing vendors, attorneys, licensure boards, probation and parole officers, and the public. Assignments are received through program referrals and board orders, and work is reviewed by a professional supervisor through discussions, reports, and detailed reviews of participant case files.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):

• Assesses and determines licensee eligibility for the voluntary recovery program.

• Develops and maintains referral agreements with evaluators and treatment providers.

• Reviews and interprets the terms and conditions of board orders and consent agreements to ensure compliance by program licensees.

• Evaluates prior periods of treatment and recovery and recommends licensee credit for substantiated recovery that commenced prior to enrollment in the voluntary recovery program.

• Determines the types of evaluations a licensee requires and refers the licensee to an approved evaluator.

• Reviews evaluator treatment recommendations to ensure that recommendations are consistent with the nature and severity of the licensee’s impairment, and monitors program participant compliance.

• Determines if a participant is safe to return to work and the conditions and restrictions under which they may do so.

• Analyzes reports from peer assistance programs concerning a licensee’s compliance and progress.

• Recommends appropriate action, including program extension, licensure suspension, and legal action when a licensee violates the monitoring requirements, and coordinates appropriate action with peer assistance programs.

• Analyzes reports from peer assistance programs for indications of possible relapse and contacts supervisor, therapist, peer assistance programs, and licensees to obtain additional information.

• Determines licensee eligibility for a case plan modification and program extension and develops the required terms and conditions.

• Consults with prosecuting attorneys concerning acceptable settlements in cases involving program violations.

• Provides testimony at hearings concerning verbal or written communications with licensees, program requirements, program compliance or violations, and actions taken.

• Participates in the formulation and implementation of new or revised program policies and assists in the ongoing evaluation of program effectiveness.

• Makes presentations to professional organizations on program benefits and processes.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• Employees in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational or organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in the identification of drug and alcohol abuse.

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse.

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, including the provision of professional counseling.

• Knowledge of the goals and objectives of drug and alcohol abuse recovery programs.

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in the identification and treatment of mental health impairments.

• Knowledge of social problems and mental health impairments and their association with drug and alcohol abuse.

• Knowledge of confidentiality laws pertaining to protected health information.

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used to review case files to monitor progress and compliance with recovery program requirements.

• Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in developing and implementing case management plans to address drug and alcohol abuse or mental health impairments.

• Ability to interpret and explain laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Ability to draw conclusions and make recommendations based upon review, evaluation, and analysis of reports, plans, interviews, and test results.

• Ability to read and interpret legal orders.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize assignments.

• Ability to assess individual eligibility for recovery programs through the interpretation of laws and program policy and the review of evaluation and treatment records.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• Three years of professional experience providing counseling in an individual or group setting and preparing treatment plans for individuals diagnosed with drug and alcohol or mental health conditions, or three years of professional experience providing case management services to individuals diagnosed with drug and alcohol or mental health conditions, and a bachelor’s degree that includes 18 credits in the behavioral sciences;

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• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes 18 credits in the behavioral sciences.