DUE PROCESS/COMPETENCY PROBLEMS PROCEDURES

We are committed to the concept of the intern having the opportunity to learn and develop new skills and to engage in personal/professional growth experiences. At the same time, it is the staff's responsibility to inform an intern, as soon as possible, if there is concern over some performance on the intern's part.

Remediation is instituted as quickly as possible under such circumstances. The supervisor's concerns and recommendations for remediation are documented and a copy filed with the Director of Training. These concerns and recommendations are shared with the intern and the intern is given the opportunity to respond in writing. If the intern accepts the recommendations, the action(s) is implemented and the home department is informed in writing. If the intern wishes to challenge the decision, s/he must submit a letter of addendum or disagreement with the supervisor's evaluation and/or recommendations to the Director of Training, requesting an appeal. The intern must file within 14 days of receiving the written evaluation.

A review panel comprised of the Director of Training and two non-supervisory personnel (i.e.. senior staff members, consultants to the training program, and/or the Vice President of Student Affairs ) is convened to conduct an appeal no later than 14 days after receiving the letter of disagreement. This panel submits its recommendations to the Center Director who may accept or reject the recommendations, or request further deliberations. The ultimate decision is made by the Center Director. The final decision is communicated in writing to the intern and the home department.

In the event that the Training Director is the intern's primary supervisor, the review goes directly to the Director of the Counseling Center. If the Director is the primary supervisor, the review and ultimate decision resides with the Training Director. Under extreme situations in which performance on the intern's part is considered seriously substandard, special procedures are initiated.

Such performance problems may be characterized by one or more of the following:

1. Problem behavior(s) and/or attitude(s) involves a violation of ethical and/or professional standards or any other behavior deleterious to client welfare.
2. Problem behavior(s) and/or attitude(s) is denied, not understood, or addressed by the intern once it is identified by staff.
3. Problem behavior(s) and/or attitude(s) does not change as a result of remediation efforts, feedback, and/or time.
4. The intern requires an inappropriate amount of time and energy by supervisory staff in order to ensure professional functioning at a basic level.
5. The nature of the problem behavior(s) and/or attitude(s) is such that it cannot be remedied by further didactic training and/or supervision.
6. The problem behavior(s) is not limited to one area of functioning. A senior staff member(s) concerned about serious competency problems in an intern's performance meets with the Center Director and the Training Director to discuss her/his concerns. This group then meets with the intern to share the concerns and to provide the intern with the opportunity to provide information on her/his behalf. As a result of this meeting, the training program may institute one or more of the following options:
   1. Placing the intern on probation for a specified time with certain expectations stated explicitly
   2. Suspending the intern's participation in certain professional activities
   3. Recommending remedial training, increase in amount of supervision, and/or change in supervisor
   4. Recommending personal therapy
   5. Recommending to the Center Director that the intern not successfully complete the internship if the behavior does not change within a specified time
   6. Terminating the intern from the internship program

If one of the actions mentioned above is indicated the intern is informed of such action in writing and asked to indicate in writing if s/he accepts or challenges the decision. If the intern decides to challenge the decision s/he may follow the appeal procedures described above.