Compass Health conducts background checks on interns prior to orientation. The following document provides the full, detailed hiring policy for the Compass Health network:

Compass Health Hiring Policy

Note these key factors that could cause the site to release an intern from match:

• • Positive drug screen.
  • Unsatisfactory background check where actions and/or crimes which prohibit patient/client contact pursuant to state law and regulations of accrediting entities.
  • Found to be convicted of, guilty of, pleaded guilty to or nolo contendere to any of the following crimes:
    • Physical abuse of Class I Neglect of a patient, resident, or client
    • Furnishing unfit food to patients, residents, or clients
    • Is listed on the DMH disqualification registry
    • Is listed on the employee disqualification list of the Department of Health and Senior Services or Department of Social Services
    • Failure of a specified professional to report suspected abuse or neglect of a patient
  • Found to be convicted of, guilty of, pleaded guilty to or nolo contendere to any of the listed felonies in the following website: http://dmh.mo.gov/about/employeedisqualification/
  • Found guilty or pleaded guilty to a violation of Driving While Intoxicated or Driving with Excessive Blood Alcohol Content and who is found by the court to be an aggravated (3 or more) or chronic (4 or more) violator.
  • Found to be guilty of any felony drug offense.

Please note that a criminal background check that reveals an intern’s past alcohol or drug-related crimes does not automatically release an intern from match. If otherwise qualified, if two (2) years have passed since the intern was convicted or found guilty and they are not currently on probation or parole, the intern is still eligible to be matched.

At Compass Health, the Training Director and some of the supervisors review the applicants to determine who might be good fits for the various locations. From those they determine who will be offered interviews. They base their evaluation of the applicants on the following criteria:

• • Did they apply to a Compass Health site?
  • Did they show experience/interest in the opportunities provided at that location?
  • Do they have a Master’s degree?
  • Do they have experience with chronic mentally ill?
  • What are their preferences for internship?
  • Are they likely to stay after internship?

After interviews are completed, the Training Director and Supervisors and/or Postdoctoral Residents involved in the interview process discuss the candidates and their qualifications for good fit with Compass Health to determine their rank for each location. Interns are to apply/rank any of the sites at which they are interested in being placed.

Compass Health is strongly invested in ensuring both a quality training experience as well as the physical health and well-being of our trainees. Due to COVID-19, these are the changes that might be made to the training experience:

• • Interns will be provided with any needed technology to work from home, including a laptop with a webcam, wireless mouse, etc.
  • Client contact may include telehealth contacts utilizing approved platforms. This may include:
    • Shadowing/observation/co-therapy
    • Individual and/or group therapy
    • Clinical/Diagnostic interviews
    • Triage/walk-in appointments
  • Primary supervision may also occasionally take place over telehealth, though is not intended to be the primary mode of primary supervision over the course of the year.