4.3 Staff Qualifications

In considering staff qualifications, detailing the related PCM activities, such as assessment, prevention planning, and risk-reduction counseling, and defining appropriate levels of staff training and skills for each, may be valuable. Agency managers may choose to have professionally trained staff serve as prevention case managers and carry out all PCM activities from recruitment and engagement through discharge. Other agency managers may apply a team approach to PCM, using both professionals and paraprofessionals. Paraprofessionals, under the supervision of a case manager, may be effective in assisting with functions such as recruitment, screening, and follow-up assistance to ensure coordination of care. Professionals may be more appropriate for performing the functions of PCM requiring more sophisticated skills such as assessment, prevention planning, and HIV risk-reduction counseling. If a team approach is used, an explicit, structured means for professionals, paraprofessionals, and volunteers to communicate must exist. Staff qualifications, then, should be based on the skills required to complete the various PCM functions or activities. All staff must be knowledgeable of confidentiality laws and agency confidentiality policies and procedures.

The essential components of a PCM program along with suggested minimum staff qualifications can be grouped into the following two main categories:

1. Essential Components  Client recruitment and engagement, screening, and coordination of services.

Suggested Minimum Staff Qualifications  Knowledge of target population; cultural and linguistic competence; knowledge of HIV, AIDS, and other STDs; knowledge of available community services; and effective communication skills.

2. Essential Components  Assessment, development of a Prevention Plan, HIV risk-reduction counseling, monitoring and reassessment, on-going support and relapse prevention, graduation and discharge planning.

   Suggested Minimum Staff Qualifications  A bachelor's degree or extensive experience in a human-services-related field, such as social work, psychology, nursing, counseling, or health education; skilled in case management and assessment techniques; skill in counseling; ability to develop and maintain written documentation (case notes); skill in crisis intervention; knowledgeable of HIV risk behaviors, human sexuality, substance abuse, STDs, the target population, and HIV behavior change principles and strategies; and cultural and linguistic competence.

PCM supervisors need the academic training and/or experience to adequately develop an overall PCM program, including PCM program goals and objectives, PCM protocols, and quality assurance and evaluation measures. PCM supervisors should also have management skills and experience overseeing case management staff. PCM program managers should provide an orientation to the PCM program for new workers and on-going supervision to ensure that the PCM intervention is clearly understood. On-going staff training and development is essential to build staff skills.

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