Masters Level Student Internship Training Program

Park Center, Inc.
909 East State Boulevard
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
Ph: (260) 481-2700, ext. 2188
TDD: (260) 481-2730
FAX: (260) 481-2885
E-mail: vmoore@parkcenter.org

Paul Wilson, MSSW, MHA
President and Chief Executive Officer
Virginia Moore, MSEd., LMHC, LSW
Professional Development Coordinator

TRAINING OVERVIEW

Park Center is committed to providing quality training to students in social work, counseling, nursing, human services and other mental health related fields. Student training is considered a mutual benefit to the student, the academic institution, and Park Center. Supervising students allows Park Center staff the opportunity to assist in the training of future professionals and, in return, providing well-trained students who make an invaluable contribution to the community and to their profession. Placement preference is given to academic institutions with well structured student training programs.

Placement of Masters level interns will be up to the discretion of the clinical program supervisor, and will take into consideration the student's academic and field placement requirements, their current academic learning, as well as site and supervisor availability.

Park Center's Student Training Program is designed to address the needs of students seeking to complete their final placement of their degree. Placements are individually tailored to meet the learning and career goals of the student, as well as the objectives established by Park Center and the student's academic institution. Appropriate duties shall be assigned by the student's supervisor in conjunction with the student's academic requirements.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Master level students are expected to demonstrate good writing and communication skills, as well as appropriate professional behavior and attire. In most cases, supervisors expect a minimum commitment of 8 - 10 hours a week for at least one semester. Interns are also expected to have a general working knowledge of abnormal psychology and the types of disabilities seen in a community mental health setting.

Masters level interns are expected to have completed coursework in:

Counseling theories and the model for understanding how people are motivated to change.
Use of the DSM-IV-TR and how to formulate diagnostic impressions.
A practicum where the intern has had prior face-to-face interaction with clients.
How to conduct a client interview and prepare a case conceptualization for clinical staffing.
Ethical / professional standards related to the student's field of study and how to recognize and handle ethical dilemmas
The types of conditions treated in a community mental health setting.
Population-specific education, e.g., child developmental psychology, adolescent psychology, substance abuse disorders, geriatric treatment, etc.

Students shall be assigned structured tasks consistent with the the needs of a beginning level clinician during their internship. The primary objective of the field placement experience is to expand the student's clinical and / or administrative knowledge and skills through supervision, training and experience.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All students accepted for placement at Park Center must abide by Park Center's practices and procedures. All students will be required to complete an on-line "HIPAA, Confidentiality and Client Rights" course which will educate students on Park Center's standards concerning HIPAA compliance, state confidentiality regulations, and client rights.

Park Center does not permit the utilization of client identifiable health information for class assignments. Therefore, students may not take any written, audio-visual, or computer related client information off Park Center's premises. In addition, faculty advisors are not allowed to observe students with Park Center clients. When observation of the student with the client is a requirement of the internship process, we recommend the student's Park Center supervisor be used to perform that function on behalf of the faculty advisor. Therefore, faculty advisors need to clearly define / articulate the skill areas they want the Park Center supervisor to observe on their behalf.

MALPRACTICE / LIABILITY INSURANCE

Park Center's malpractice / liability insurance policy covers students during their field placement at Park Center. In addition, Park Center believes that academic institutions placing students, and / or the student, must also share the professional risk. Park Center requires that all academic institutions placing students at Park Center to submit a copy of the Certificate of Liability Insurance prior to the student's start date. If the academic institution does not provide the student with malpractice / liability insurance coverage, then the student must purchase the appropriate liability coverage and submit a copy to Park Center.

PLACEMENT BENEFITS

Student benefits include:

Coverage under Park Center's liability / malpractice insurance policy.
Use of Park Center's facilities (e.g. library, staff lounge, etc.).
Private office space (when appropriate and available).
Access to equipment (e.g. copier, audio-visual, computer, etc.).
Support services (e.g. general secretarial & transcription services).
Participation in staff activities (e.g. in-house training events, Professional Training Series workshops, staff picnics, etc.).
Access to Park Center's Intranet.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS & SCREENING PROCEDURES

Application Requirements:

A completed Student Intern Placement Application
An official transcript of current academic record.
A curriculum vita / resume.
Two (2) professional letters of recommendation
Proof of Liability Insurance coverage (if the academic institution does not provide it, the student is required to obtain liability insurance coverage.)
A letter of institutional sponsorship from the internship/practicum advisor which includes a statement regarding:
- Why the faculty advisor believes the student is ready for field placement
- The institution's acceptance of responsibility for the student's placement.
- Academic expectations of field placement experience.
- Educational agreement between academic institution, student & Park Center.

Submitting Completed Application Materials To Park Center:

It is recommended that student applicants submit their application as a complete packet rather than piecemeal to reduce the risk of something getting lost. The application packet should be submitted to the Professional Development Coordinator eight (8) weeks prior to the expected placement start date for consideration. The Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) shall review the application and make inquiries / suggestions for a possible placement site based on student preference and program availability. The PDC shall also schedule an initial meeting with the applicant to discuss how the placement process works, and, if time allows, provide a tour of the Park Center campus.

After the initial meeting with the PDC, a placement interview shall be arranged between the prospective applicant and potential clinical supervisor to discuss possible placement. The placement interview provides both the supervisor and student the opportunity to ask questions in order to ensure a good placement fit between what the placement can provide and the student's placement goals. The supervisor shall also discuss the placement procedures and responsibilities with the student and address any questions they may have concerning the field placement experience. Internship applicants shall be notified regarding the status of their application by the clinical supervisor or the Professional Development Coordinator.

for additional information on park center's internship program, contact:

Virginia Moore, MSEd, LMHC, LSW
Professional Development Coordinator
Park Center, Inc.
909 E. State Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(260) 482-9125, ext. 2188
FAX (260) 481-2885
Email: vmoore@parkcenter.org

PLACEMENT PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

Supervisors shall notify Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) of all student candidates for internship placement, as a background check shall be initiated by the PDC as a preliminary requirement prior to acceptance for placement.
1. full student name
2. mailing address
3. date of birth
4. social security number
Supervisors shall review the student application and schedule a placement interview with the applicant to decide if the student is appropriate for placement in a Park Center program.
The PDC and the student’s supervisor shall maintain an Intern Placement File (student record) on all students accepted for placement which shall include a copy of the:
1. Application
2. Signed agreements, e.g., Educational Contract, Confidentiality Statement, Corporate Compliance Agreement, and Code of Ethics Agreement
3. Current academic transcript
4. Placement schedule and student training plan
5. Mid and final evaluations
6. Supervision logs
7. Any other information or correspondence related to the student’s internship
The Supervisor shall review Placement Procedures and Responsibilities with the student and address any related questions the student may have.
The student’s supervisor shall establish a mutually agreeable start date and shall assist the student in obtaining a student ID badge from Human Resources. If a student needs electronic access to fulfill their placement responsibilities, the student’s supervisor shall contact the Professional Development Coordinator for an electronic ID number, before the student goes to Human Resources for an ID badge.
Supervisors shall assist students to review the On-line Policies & Procedures and to complete the New Employee Training curriculum (NET). They shall also help students become oriented to Park Center , and the program they will be working in, concerning how things are done at Park Center .
Students shall comply with Park Center Policy and Procedures on safety, confidentiality, notification of absence / illness, supervision, professional conduct, etc.
The student’s supervisor shall have the student review and sign the Confidentiality, Corporate Compliance and Code of Ethics statements on the first day of placement. The signed original forms are to be sent to the PDC.
During the first week of placement, the Supervisor and Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) shall sign the Educational Agreement / Contract provided by the student’s academic institution, or use Park Center ’s form if one is not provided. A copy of the signed contract shall be forwarded to the PDC.
The student’s supervisor shall assist the student in creating a Placement Training Plan that identifies 3 or 4 internship goals for the field lacement experience. The Placement Training Plan shall be used in determining the success of the student’s placement and help guide the mid / final evaluation process.
Student interns shall maintain a record or log of their placement hours that they have completed at Park Center .
The student’s supervisor shall provide weekly supervision with the student and record their supervision on Student Supervision Documentation Forms. Supervision shall include direct observation of the student with client(s) on at least two (2) occasions.
The student’s supervisor shall complete a mid and final evaluation of the student’s learning and performance during their internship. A copy shall be forwarded to the PDC.
The student’s supervisor shall complete and return any correspondence required by the academic institution relative to the student’s internship.
All medical record entries are to be reviewed and approved by the student’s supervisor as meeting Park Center’s standards, as evidenced by the supervisor’s signature, and when required, an HSPP signature shall also be obtained on the medical record entry.
Students shall attend the program’s staff meetings.
The Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) shall be notified of any problems between Park Center, the student and / or academic institution. Park Center ’s policy and procedure for corrective action and / or termination shall be applicable to student interns.
* Serious violations of Park Center policies and procedures may result in immediate termination. A formal meeting shall be arranged by the PDC with the student, student’s supervisor and faculty advisor, when an internship needs to be terminated.

* Less serious violations, where student performance is not in conformance with expected standards, shall, first, require a corrective action plan. The student and the student’s supervisor shall receive a copy of the corrective action, as well as the PDC. If the student is unable to satisfy the requirements of the corrective action plan within the specified time frame, the internship may be terminated.
Supervisors shall provide students with a Supervision Evaluation Form (along with a self-addressed return envelope), which students are asked to complete and submit within 2 weeks following the last day of internship at Park Center.
The Professional Development Coordinator shall receive / maintain a copy of all supervision documentation and application forms for the student's internship file. Student internship files shall be maintained for a period of at least five years.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES DURING PLACEMENT

Students are expected to demonstrate professional conduct at all times, including their behavior, conversation, and appearance.
Students are to abide by the Center’s Code of Ethics, the ethical standards of their profession, and the policies and procedures of Park Center.
Students need to be flexible when working out a placement schedule and when scheduling supervision time with supervisors. Clinical supervisors are often very busy individuals who will do their best to work out a mutually agreeable schedule.
*Note on Scheduling Supervision: It may be best to schedule supervision at least six (6) weeks out to reduce the frustration of scheduling conflicts that can come up. It is also good practice to schedule the mid and final evaluation dates at the beginning of placement as a reminder of when they need to be done and to allow enough time aside for the supervisor to prepare the evaluation.
Students shall be expected to maintain attendance according to their placement schedule and follow the Center’s policies on attendance. Any changes in the placement schedule need to be approved by the student’s supervisor. If a student is ill, they need to take responsibility for seeing that their appointments are canceled / covered and to notify their supervisor of their absence. If a student is away for more than two weeks, it may result in termination of placement.
Students are expected to disclose to the clients they work with: their student intern status and current credentials, the approximate time they will be working at Park Center (duration of placement), and who their clinical supervisor is. Clients have the right to know this information when making treatment decisions and they have the right to refuse treatment by a student intern, if they so choose.
Students need to take responsibility to regularly schedule time to staff their cases, either with their supervisor or during the department clinical staffing time. This includes review of diagnostic impressions, case conceptualizations, treatment planning and interventions, and progress updates. It is not acceptable for students to do any of this work without direct supervision of the supervisor. Students are expected to attend clinical staff meetings of the program they work in on a regular basis.
Students need to allow time for closure with clients they are working with. Clients can get close to students over time and forget they will be leaving, so it is important for the student to take time during their last two or three weeks to say good-bye to those they are working with, including staff. Students also need to plan / decide what responsible action needs to be taken with their client caseload, e.g., transfer / referral of clients to another clinician or group, termination / discharge of clients who have completed their treatment, completion of remaining documentation requirements, etc.

SUPERVISION PROCESS

Supervision during internship is a process whereby a seasoned professional has responsibility for the oversight, training, and evaluation of a student in the profession seeking to acquire knowledge and skills from a field placement experience.

OVERSIGHT involves the monitoring of a student's placement experience for:

Placement / environmental adjustment.
Ability to apply academic learning to the placement experience.
Ability to satisfy internal / external documentation requirements.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients.
Compliance with Park Center's policies and procedures.

TRAINING includes available learning opportunities the student receives to further their professional development, such as:

Orientation to Park Center’s service delivery system, i.e., intake, transfer, referral, emergency care, and discharge processes.
Opportunities to participate in training on the electronic medical record and other computerized software, state functional assessments, progress notes, billing practices, clinical training, online training, PTS workshops, etc.
Opportunities to learn how to gather and document clinical information, e.g., how to create a client-centered treatment plan, how to document client contact so that it meets billing guidelines, how to conduct a client interview, how to formulate a diagnostic impression, etc.
Opportunities to experience and learn about the dynamics of the client / clinician relationship.
Opportunities to learn from seasoned professionals during clinical staff meetings, department and service center training events, supervision sessions, etc.
Opportunities to learn networking / case management, e.g., linking clients to internal and external resources, supports, information, etc.

EVALUATION is the ongoing assessment and feedback of the student's performance which is used to further their professional development. This includes:

Weekly supervision / consultation sessions with the student’s supervisor and / or with other seasoned professionals designated by the student’s supervisor to assist in supervision. This includes opportunities for direct observation of the student with clients.
Other clinical feedback, i.e., during clinical staffing meetings, from other seasoned professionals, from the licensed psychologists (HSPPs) who sign off on treatment plans and assessments authorizing the medical necessity of treatment, efficiency reports, MRO and HAP audit reports, etc.
Mid / final placement evaluations which provide the student with an evaluation of their placement performance and goal achievement.

PARK CENTER MISSION & HISTORY

Park Center is the largest Mental Health Center in Northeast Indiana , established 60 years ago. With an annual budget of more than 25 million dollars and over 420 employees, Park Center served 8,053 clients last year through 35 client service programs. Services are provided through three clinical service centers: Managed Care Services, Adult Community Services, and Child and Adult Services. In addition, Medical Services, which is staffed by five psychiatrists and three clinical nurse specialists, provides psychiatric and medical services to these clinical service centers. Support for the clinical service centers is provided by Administrative and Corporate Services staff.

PARK CENTER MISSION AND VALUES:

The mission and values statements that follow were adopted by the Park Center Board of Directors after a strategic planning process that involved consumers, family members, staff, management, and community leaders.

Park Center's Mission : The mission of Park Center is to restore lives. By partnering with consumers, we strive to support and facilitate their journey towards health.

Supporting Values:

Listening to Consumers: We recognize that our customers are in charge of their recovery journey. Whenever possible, we will arrange services dictated by their strengths, dreams and desires.
Commitment to Excellence: We are committed to excellence in every part of our organization and in our relationships to the communities and the clients we serve.
Most In Need As Priority: Park Center places those consumers who are most in need as our highest priority.
Customer Satisfaction: We are committed to customer satisfaction by being flexible, responsive, friendly, and by placing the customer first.
Mutual Respect: We respect staff in a way that promotes a sense of ownership, motivation, growth, trust, and shared responsibility for creating our own future.
Financial Strength: Park Center is best able to fulfill its mission through a position of financial strength. Strong business practices will promote a healthy bottom line.

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