Supervisory Support

Settlement Agreement Provision

The Commonwealth shall ensure that the statewide training program includes adequate coaching and supervision of staff trainees. Coaches and supervisors must have demonstrated competency in providing the service they are coaching and supervising.


About Supervisory Support

DSP Supervisors are responsible for adequate coaching and supervision of their staff trainees. As part of its training program, DBHDS makes available a supervisory training for all DSP supervisors who are also required to complete DSP training and testing as described in DMAS Waiver Regulations. In addition to training and education, support and coaching is made available to DBHDS-licensed providers through the DBHDS Offices of Integrated Health and Provider Development upon request and through community nursing meetings, provider roundtables, and quarterly support coordinator meetings to increase the knowledge and skills of staff and supervisors providing waiver services. Direct Support Professionals Supervisors who provide services and supports for people with developmental disability (DD) in Virginia are required to complete an orientation training process established by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) per Medicaid Waiver regulations (12VAC30-122-180). This process was initiated in 1997 and has seen various revisions and updates since that time. It is designed with three purposes in mind: so people get quality services, to build skills and confidence, and to enhance the supervisor-DSP relationship. A three-module training, which includes a knowledge-based test, is required by DBHDS for providers of the following services before they can provide supervision for DSPs or provide support to people with DD Waiver:

Agency-Directed Personal Assistance

Agency-Directed Companion

Agency-Directed Respite

Center-Based Crisis Services

Community-Based Crisis Services

Crisis Support Services

Community Engagement

Community Coaching

Group Day Services

Group Home Residential

Independent Living

In-Home Support Services

Sponsored Residential

Supported Living Residential

Workplace Assistance

The following employment providers not licensed by DBHDS have the option to meet training and competency requirements:

Individual Supported Employment

Group Supported Employment

Workplace Assistance

Instructions to access the training are provided below.

Authorizing Authority

DD Waiver Regulations (12VAC30-122-180)

Processes, Protocols and Standards

Virginia Regulatory Townhall

Additional Materials Guidelines, Charters, Plans, Other

DSP Orientation and Competencies Training Video Recording FY21

DSP Orientation and Competencies Training Video Slides FY21 [PPTX]

DSP Orientation and Competencies Training Video FAQ FY21 [DOCX]

Optional Access to Materials Online

    Instruments and Tools

    · DSP Orientation Training Slides 2016

    Updates Effective 11/15/2021 – DSP Orientation Supplemental Materials

      DSP Supplemental Training Choking Risk Slides [PPTX]

      DSP Supplemental Training Choking Risk Slides [PDF]

      DSP Supplemental Training Choking Risk Narrative [DOCX]

      DSP Supplemental Training Change in Mental Status Slides [PPTX]

      DSP Supplemental Training Change in Mental Status Slides [PDF]

      DSP Supplemental Training Change in Mental Status Narrative [DOCX]

      DSP and Supervisor Orientation Test Effective on 11/15/21

      Accessing the DSP Orientation Supervisory Training

      Supervisors can access the required supervisor training and take the test through the Virginia Learning Center (VLC). The Commonwealth of Virginia Learning Center (COVLC) is not monitored 24/7. Helpdesk assistance is provided Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., with the exception of State Holiday/Department closures. Note: The self-service registration function is no longer accessible. Please follow the steps, if needing a new account, in the New Users Only section below:

      New Users Only: To request an account, please email the dbhdscovlchelpdesk@dbhds.virginia.gov. You will need to submit an email, entering “Requesting a COVLC Account” in the subject line. Before approving or denying your request the following information will need to be supplied:

      · The name of the organization you are affiliated with (CSB, Licensed Private Provider, etc.)

      · Your Manager’s Name (if a contractor or providing counseling services, who would you report to)

      · Is the organization licensed or are you in the process of being licensed by one of the following: DBHDS Office of Licensing, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), the Department of Social Services, or DMAS?

      · If your organization is not licensed, please provide the reason for requesting an account.

      · What is your reason for requesting an account in the DBHDS-E – External Entities Domain? (Example: training to qualify for Medicaid billing, support coordination training, DSP Supervisor Training, etc.).

      Once your responses have been reviewed, an account may be created for you, or you’ll receive a follow-up/denial email.

      Change in Organization: If you have an existing account but have switched organizations and can’t access your account, please submit an email to the DBHDS VOVLC Helpdesk email address above. You’ll need to enter “Update Email Address” in the subject line. Please provide your full name (first and last) and previous email address. A user may have only one account in the VLC and therefore a new account will be denied.

      Current Users: If you’ve forgotten your Login ID and/or password. You may request your Login ID or a temporary password, by clicking login ID and/or password in the “Forgot your login ID or password?” link on the COVLC log in page (https://covlc.virginia.gov/Default.aspx). Please request your Login ID first, via the link. The VLC will send a system-generated email. The email may deliver to your Spam/Junk folder. Please be sure to update your organizational information, in your account profile, accordingly. It’s imperative that you include your Company name, as it helps identify which organization you’re taking training for.

      The supervisor training can be located in the VLC by searching with the key word “DSP”. Once a supervisor has completed online training and testing through the VLC, they may request a copy of the DSP test answer key by sending a copy of their VLC certificate to their assigned Provider Team Community Resource Consultant with DBHDS.

      List any other issues, errors, suggestions, etc. that should be addressed on this page:

      For more information about Supervisory Support:

      dbhds.virginia.gov/developmental-services/provider-development