Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist

Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist

The primary purpose of the Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) is to provide clinical supervision of Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program to include supervision of the Qualified Professional, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Substance Abuse Interns and Counselors, and Patient Care Coordinators. Other responsibilities included, but are not limited to :

Ø Supervision of direct care staff.

Ø Oversight of emergencies.

Ø Provision of direct clinical psychoeducational services to children, adolescents or families.

Ø Coordination of each treatment plan.

Ø Be onsite a minimum of 50 percent of the hours of operation of the program.

Ø Screening to determine a patient is appropriate and eligible for admission to a particular program.

Ø Intake to provide the administrative and initial assessment procedures for admission to a program.

Ø An assessment to identify and evaluate for the purpose of the development of a treatment plan an individual's strengths, weaknesses, problems and needs.

Ø The treatment planning process whereby the counselor and patient identify and rank problem needing resolution, establish agreed upon immediate and long-term goals, and decide on a treatment process and the resources to be utilized.

Ø Counseling to assist individuals, families or groups in achieving objectives through exploration of a problem and its ramifications, examination of attitudes and feelings consideration of alternative solutions, and making decisions.

Ø Providing those crisis intervention services which respond to an alcohol or other drug abusers needs during acute emotional and physical distress.

Ø Provision of patient education information to individuals and group describing alcohol and other drug abuse and the available services and resources.

Ø Consultation with substance abuse and other professionals to assure comprehensive, quality care for the patient.

Competencies

A. The LCAS shall employ the requisite knowledge, skill and proficiencies of a substance abuse practitioner competently providing services within his or her scope of practice.

B. The LCAS shall strive to learn about cultural and ethnic values in order to provide the highest level of care for a patient who possesses a diverse or unfamiliar cultural or ethnic background.

C. The LCAS shall provide the necessary interpretive services to any patient or refer the person for necessary services.

D. The LCAS shall assist in eliminating prevention, intervention, treatment, and supervision practices by person's unqualified or unauthorized to practice in the field.

E. The LCAS who identifies a need for services outside his or her skill, training or experience shall refer the client to an appropriate professional or shall seek supervision and training to provide the required services for the individual.

F. The LCAS shall complete reports and record keeping functions in a manner that supports the clients' treatment experience and welfare.

Qualifications

"Licensed clinical addictions specialist (LCAS)" means an individual who is licensed as such by the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board.