About Us:

JOB DESCRIPTION: School Based Therapist/CM

DEPARTMENT: Child and Adolescent

REPORTS TO: Director Children Services

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Work with children and adolescent individual and groups to promote optimum mental health. May help individuals deal with mental and behavioral substance abuse; family, parenting, suicide; stress management; problems with self-esteem; and issues associated with child and adolescent mental and emotional health. Additionally the Therapist will provide Case Management services to include conducting initial assessments with and maintaining case management responsibilities for clients, patients, relatives and other appropriate persons.

PRIMARY RESPSONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

1. Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients' treatment.
2. Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, and help them to develop insight into themselves and their relationships.
3. Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems.
4. Counsel clients and patients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes.
5. Meet with families, probation officers, police, and other interested parties in order to exchange necessary information during the treatment process.
6. Obtains pertinent information for the purpose of formulating a diagnosis of psycho-social problems. Responsible for assessing the client's status including personal strengths, progress, problems and needs.
7. Participates in the development of diagnostically based treatment plan.
8. Conducts interviews utilizing the basic therapeutic methods and techniques.
9. Monitors the client's participation and progress in an organized treatment program to assure the planned provision of services according to the client's plan of care is being followed and/or revised as appropriate.
10. Intercedes on behalf of individual clients within the community at large to assist the client in achieving and maintaining their community adjustment.
11. Participates in the selection, formulation and presentation of case data from a variety of sources for case planning, supervisory conferences and consultation.
12. Confers with public officials, agency representatives and other professional persons regarding specific cases.
13. Maintains quarterly productivity standards to ensure appropriate delivery of services to clients served. Ensures billing logs are submitted within organizational requirements.
14. Completes necessary documentation as it applies to individual clients including case opening, referrals, progress notes, discharge planning and case closure.
15. Participates in staff training as a team and on an individualized basis to learn skills to include: interviewing, assessment, ability to establish rapport and maintain relationships, give direct treatment planning, knowledge of promoting positive behaviors, self direction, knowledge about mental illness, etc.
16. Maintaining client charts and assuring the standards and guidelines in quality care are followed.
17. Act as client advocates in order to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations; conducts follow up assessments to all clients calling the crisis line or who are in need of walk-in crisis intervention.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Requires Masters degree from an accredited school in Social Work, Psychology or Nursing. Requires a working knowledge of the theory and practice of mental health counseling and psychotherapy; the dynamics of human behavior of individuals and groups; structure and function of the mental health and welfare services; the legal aspects of counseling and psychotherapy; the ethics and values of their respective profession; the DSM-III-R and diagnostic terminology. Requires elementary knowledge of the biological and social sciences. Requires the ability to develop and implement individual treatment plans with flexibility and independence, to utilize personality theory, case work methods, supervision and consultation in practice; to function within prescribed policies and procedures of the Center; to communicate professional content orally and in writing; to maintain effective relationships with other staff disciplines and community agencies.

Candidate must have a minimum of two (2) years post graduate clinical experience in a variety of treatment modalities. Must have good computer skills, be able to multi-task and demonstrate strong organizational skills.

CERTIFICATION OR LICENSE REQUIRED:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor is preferred.