Guidance Documents
Newest VSCSW Continuing Education Requirements
This Guidance Document explains how many required “Ethics CE Hours” LCSWs now need every 2 years in Virginia. Changes from 2 hours to 6 hours required in “Ethics” as of October 14, 2019.
VSCSW “Clinical Social Work Services”:
How to document that your practice matches the definition.
This Guidance Document provides instructions on how to document that your practice matches the definitions in the regulations and the Code of Virginia so as to decrease the chance that your application is not accepted. It also gives you a very defensible position to challenge any adverse findings about your application concerning not meeting the definition of Clinical Social Work Services. There are a lot of “nuts and bolts” details in this document.
VSCSW Response to Social Work Summit-Clinical Course of Study
This Response reviews the minutes of the Virginia Board of Social Work, the VBSW Regulatory Committee, and the VBSW Credentialing Committee over the years 2007 to 2011. Sections of the minutes are pulled out to highlight the involvement of Social Work Stakeholders (including MSW programs in Virginia, The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the Association of Social Work Boards) to develop the definition of “Clinical Course of Study.”
VSCSW Information Technology Policies
Technology is developing a such a fast pace that ethical standards have not been developed yet to address the issues that arise when the Clinical Social Worker uses technology as part of their clinical practice. These Technology Policies are an attempt to give Clinical Social Workers guidance on establishing policies in their practice that address boundaries and other ethical issues unique to technology.
HIPAA-Definition of Terms
HIPAA can be confusing to deal with in your practice. This is a listing from the HIPAA regulations of definitions of HIPAA terms. You can add the definitions list to your practice policy manual.
Sexual Exploitation in Health Care- Virginia Department of Health Professions
Unfortunately one of the most frequent complaints brought to the licensing boards is sexual misconduct by mental health practitioners. The Department of Health Professions developed a brochure to assist clients to make a complaint about this type of unethical conduct. The brochure makes it clear that “legitimate health care never involves sexual activity.”
VSCSW Response to Social Work Summit – March 24, 2012
This is the executive summary of the March 24, 2012 “VSCSW Response to the Social Work Summit.” It highlights the process the Virginia Board of Social Work conducted from 2007 to 2011 to involve Social Work Stakeholders (including MSW programs in Virginia, The Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the Association of Social Work Boards) to develop the definitions of “Clinical Course of Study” and “Clinical Social Work Services.”
Adding a New Service to Your Practice: Applying An Ethical Decision Making Protocol
Clinical Social Workers attend workshops, read new books and professional journals to improve their knowledge base and learn about new ways to help clients. The CSWA code of ethics requires that Clinical Social Workers not practice outside their area of competency. So how do you know if you have gone through a process to assure you are adding a new skill or service to your practice in an ethical manner? This guidance document gives a case example of applying Frederick Reamer’s Ethical Decision Making Model in adding a new service to your practice.”
Controversy in Virginia about LCSW licensure (May 11, 2012)
Virginia is in the midst of a Controversy over who gets to define what courses from the MSW program will qualify for meeting the Virginia Board of Social Work’s definition of “clinical Course of Study?” Also which practice settings and experiences will meet the definition of “Clinical Social Work Services?” This guidance document gives a brief history and some data to help shed light on the problem.
“Houston We Have A Problem”
Most of us are familiar with this phrase and I translated it to “Social Work We Have A Problem.” This article gives some of the details following up on a newsletter article with the same title dealing with Mismanagement of Countertransference Involving Sexual Misconduct by Mental Health practitioners.
Steps you can take to secure EPHI
Mobile Devices and Health Information Privacy and Security
This document is from the DHHS and gives a description of 11 steps you can take to secure EPHI on mobile devices.
This document is more of a “how to” actually implement the 11 steps you can take to secure EPHI on mobile devices. It has both text and photos to help guide you through the steps. It is written by a social worker not an IT (Information Technology) person so it is a good place to start but you may still have to ask your IT person some questions.
Registration of Supervision and Application for LCSW by Exam or Endorsement
VSCSW Guidance Document on Registration of Supervision and Application for LCSW by Exam or Endorsement.
“The Future of Social Work & Mental Health In The 21st Century”
Post-conference summary. VSCSW LSW Study Results, 12/1/17
Denial of LCSW application
Study of the Virginia Board of Social Work Denials of LCSW Applications – Calendar Year 2014 By Joseph G. Lynch LCSW, CSOTP
VSCSW August 20, 2015
Psychotherapy Report and Mid-Level Licensure Report
The VSCSW was invited by the Virginia Board of Social Work Regulatory Committee to submit written input concerning two topics, Mid-Level Licensure and Psychotherapy being included in the VBSW regulatory definition of Clinical Social Work
VSCSW Legislative Vice President Joseph G. Lynch LCSW prepared two reports for the VBSW Regulatory Committee and presented the reports to the Board members on July 24, 2015 at the VBSW Board meeting. The Regulatory Committee was scheduled to consider both issues at their meeting on August 28, 2015. However the August 28, 2015 meeting was cancelled and as of October 14, 2015 has not been rescheduled. The two issues are of grave concern to the VSCSW. The VSCSW is opposed to any changes that in any way diminish the value of the Virginia LCSW license.
VSCSW Study of VBSW Denial of LCSW Applications for 2014 Year
Registration of Supervision and Application for LCSW- GUIDANCE DOCUMENT
VSCSW has developed a Guidance Document to assist MSW’s in the Registration of Supervision and Application for LCSW. It is critical that the MSW complete these documents with caution and specificity.
VBSW REGISTRATION AND APPLICATION FORMS:
The Virginia Board of Social Work a few years ago changed from “paper” LCSW applications to “online” applications. While this has many advantages, it has one very large disadvantage- that is the applicant has not seen a copy of the application until they are actually applying to sit for the LCSW exam. It is very important that you know what questions are on the application at the beginning of gaining your two years of supervised experience. It is like being allowed to see a copy of the final exam for a course as you start the course. This would help you know which items to pay attention to during your supervised experience. You may request “paper” copies of the following VBSW forms from the Virginia Board of Social Work (for your convenience we have provided links to copies of these forms)*****
*****BE AWARE THAT THESE COPIES WERE PROVIDED TO US IN APRIL 2018. THE BOARD MAY CHANGE THE DESIGN OF THEIR FORMS AT ANY TIME.THE FORMS ARE DATED 2016-THAT IS THE LAST TIME THE BOARD UPDATED THE FORMS. THE BOARD MAY CHOOSE TO UPDATE THEIR FORMS AT ANY POINT IN TIME. IT IS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE TO CONTACT THE BOARD OFFICE DIRECTLY TO ASSURE YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE MOST UP-TO-DATE FORM..
11 Steps to implement for Security of EPHI on Mobile Devices
Steps you can take to secure EPHI:
This document is from the DHHS and gives a description of 11 steps you can take to secure EPHI on mobile devices.
This document is more of a “how to” actually implement the 11 steps you can take to secure EPHI on mobile devices. It has both text and photos to help guide you through the steps. It is written by a social worker not an IT (Information Technology) person so it is a good place to start but you may still have to ask your IT person some questions.