Intern

Policy Overview

his policy clarifies the expectations of Darke County Recovery Services upon students and/or interns who participate in the Agency programs for purposes of their own education and training. It will articulate responsibilities of the student/intern, as well as responsibilities of the Agency. It will articulate the requirement that students and interns will be expected to abide by all legal constraints as defined in state and federal laws regarding the right of clients being treated by Darke County Recovery Services policy also will articulate that the students shall agree to protect the rights of clients to confidentiality.

Pre‑Training Requirements

Prior to assuming a training experience at Darke County Recovery Services students are expected to request two letters of reference from professors familiar with their work who can attest to their readiness for the training experience. Such readiness shall include academic preparation, as well as maturity to assume the responsibilities required.

Prior to assuming a training experience at Darke County Recovery Services, students will sign a consent to release information for the electronic background check to verify eligibility to serve in our agency.

Training and Supervision

All students and volunteers will receive training and continuing supervision in all agency policies and procedures.

All students and volunteers will receive regular Performance Evaluations.

Documentation of clinical supervision, training and regular Performance Evaluations will be maintained in the personnel files of all students and volunteers.

Policy Regarding Confidentiality

Students will be expected to maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and will sign a Confidentiality Agreement. In no instance shall a student divulge client information or therapeutic activity to anyone outside the Agency. In such cases which require students to provide information regarding their training experience to their training program, students will be required to eliminate any identifying information regarding clients, and only release such information under the supervision of their on‑site supervisor. Narratives of any kind or diaries regarding experiences at the Agency shall not mention client identifying information. Students will be expected to sign an agreement with the Agency stating that they will maintain confidentiality at all times.

Dual Relationships

Students will inform their supervisor or Agency personnel any time they encounter clients or consumers of the Agency with whom they have personal relationships elsewhere. In no instance shall trainees be allowed to participate in the observation of any treatment activity or provide a treatment activity to a person with whom they have a relationship elsewhere. When informed of such relationships, the Agency personnel will take steps to ensure that consumer information is not accessible by the student.

Professional Conduct and Behavior

Students will be expected to dress and behave in accordance with the Agency standards of professional conduct. Students will be expected to have an awareness of Agency policies and procedures, particularly as they relate to conduct. In the event of more advanced students who may perform some clinical functions under supervision, all such activity shall be supervised by their identified on‑site supervisor, and any correspondence or progress data shall be co‑signed by that supervisor.

Dual relationships between students and staff also shall be limited. Students receiving training at this facility should identify any prior relationships with agency staff and the Agency shall ensure that any provision of training is not provided by persons with whom the trainee has had a dual relationship. In addition, students have a right to expect to be treated with integrity. Sexual or other behavior which crosses the boundary of the teacher‑student relationship shall also not be tolerated, and students should report any such behavior to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Representation to Others

Students shall at no time represent themselves to the community or to client consumers or anyone else as anything but students and trainees at this facility. Any statements which imply expertise or specialized knowledge are prohibited. In the event students are addressed in ways or asked questions which assume more expert knowledge about professional matters, students are to correct the questioner with a statement which clarifies their status as a student and such questions are to be referred to persons with the expertise to answer them.

Observation of Clients and Therapeutic Activities

Under no circumstances shall students observe therapeutic activities in this agency or have access to privileged client information without the full informed consent of the client. Clients who consent to students observing therapeutic sessions or students observing or perusing the records, shall do so only after being informed of the student's training status, as well as the responsible Agency personnel supervising the student for the particular activity. Such consent shall be in writing and witnessed by Agency staff person. Under no circumstances are students to observe counseling or other behaviors at the Agency or therapeutic activities of the Agency without informed consent by all who are observed. Advanced students who provide services to consumers of agency services shall do so only within the limits of their ability. Obviously in training environments, students are doing such activities with the expectation of learning those skills. In such situations, the consumer shall be informed about the training nature of the activity and shall be in close and direct supervision at all times until proficiencies are established.

Training Environment

Students shall be given adequate opportunity to read and to become aware of agency policies, as well as particular information regarding their area of training. Students are to understand that training is a secondary activity in this Agency to that of providing client care. Students will understand that there will be times when they will not have the opportunity to engage in didactic training activities because of staff being required elsewhere. In those cases, students are expected to structure their own time with reading, reviewing policies, etc.

Ethical Standards

Students receiving training at Darke County Recovery Services will be expected to read or review the APA Ethic Standards and/or the ethic standards for their particular field of training.

Agency Evaluation Activities

The Darke County Recovery Services will provide the training institution information regarding appraisal of skills of students receiving training at this facility. The student understands that the Agency will attempt to be candid with the student about our appraisal, and should not find any information provided the school a surprise. Students are responsible, however, to inform the Agency of any expectations beyond a summary review of performance prior to the training experience.

Documentation of Policies/Procedures

Students will be provided electronic access to the Student and Volunteer Orientation and Training policy. Copies of letters from professors and evaluations will be stored in HR Support Manager's office.

Requirements

• Must be enrolled in a Masters or Bachelors program.