Therapist - Academy

By joining the San Diego Center for Children, you will empower children and families through transformative mental health care and educational services. Our vision is to inspire a world where children and families live joyful, healthy lives. We serve over 1,000 people every day - are you ready to make an impact?Join us - and work with purpose!POSITION BENEFITSTeam-oriented, multidisciplinary approachOngoing, high-level learning and development opportunitiesCulturally diverse environmentJoint Commission Accredited OrganizationComprehensive Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision, pet)Retirement savings plan: 403(b) - with employer match up to 3%Generous paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays)Wellness programsEAP - Employee Assistance ProgramTuition reimbursement or assistance for continuing educationEmployee discountsEmployee recognition programOpportunities for career advancementMay be eligible for state or federal loan forgiveness programs for work with underserved populationsSUMMARYThe San Diego Center for Children Academy is a nonpublic school accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC), specializing in supporting students with special education needs. Therapists work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, including educators and mental health professionals, to support each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals and implement positive behavioral supports within the classroom and therapeutic milieu.This role could provide flexible, high-quality clinical services across the Academy, Residential programs, and other assigned settings to ensure continuity of care, coverage during staff vacancies or leaves, and support during high-acuity needs. Therapists deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive care to children and adolescents with complex emotional, behavioral, and educational needs, while partnering closely with interdisciplinary teams, families, schools, and community providers to promote safety, healing, and long-term success.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Other Duties May Be Assigned)Direct Therapeutic Services:Provide individual, group, and family therapy to youth in residential, academy or program assigned.Complete assessments, case management, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries in compliance with agency policy, licensing, and regulatory requirements.Participate in treatment team meetings, IEPs, and multidisciplinary case conferences.Respond to crisis situations and provide clinical intervention and stabilization support as needed.Ensure continuity of care during staff absences, transitions, or increased program needs.Maintain clinical documentation in accordance with Medi-Cal, CCL, and other funding or licensing requirements.Other duties as assigned.Crisis Intervention:Address immediate emotional and behavioral concerns, including de-escalation and safety planning.Support students during crises and collaborate with staff to maintain a safe school environment.Case Management:Coordinate with families, school staff, and community agencies to ensure holistic care.Track and report progress, challenges, and outcomes for each studentDocumentation and Compliance:Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation, including progress notes and treatment plans.Adhere to school, district, and state regulations for nonpublic schools.Maintain measures of progress and feedback from student and families.Professional Development:Stay informed on best practices in school-based therapy, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based interventions.Participate in ongoing training and collaboration with the school team.Maintain Board of Behavioral Health Registration & SDCC required trainings.Team Collaboration:Work with teachers, administrators, and support staff to create a cohesive approach to student care.Contribute to school-wide initiatives focused on improving mental health and student engagement.Other duties as assigned.On The Job Mandatory Ongoing Trainings:Maintain all certifications and licenses required for the role, ensuring they remain current.Complete and stay up-to-date with all mandatory trainings as specified by the San Diego Center for Children, including but not limited to: Residential Counselor Training, Intervention Toolbox, CPR and First Aid Certification S.P.A. Certification, False Claims, HIPAA, Safety, Trauma Informed Care, Annual Block Trainings as assigned.Any training assigned.Restraint and Safety Training Requirements:Apply Safe and Positive Approaches (SPA) restraint techniques, which may involve:Lifting or holding a child in standing, sitting, or ground-level positions.Separating clients who are acting in an unsafe manner to ensure the safety of both clients and staff.Prolonged standing, bending, and transitioning youth from a standing to a seated position.Must pass a two-day SPA training that focuses on safely initiating a physical hold with youth presenting as a danger to themselves or others.It is recommended that staff be able to support up to 50 pounds.Behavioral and Emotional Challenges:Due to the emotional instability of the clients, the employee may be subjected to physical aggression, including but not limited to:Kicking, hitting, punching, biting, and hair pulling.Vision Requirements: Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.LANGUAGE SKILLSAbility to read, analyze, and interpret medical records, journals, reports, and legal documents; Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community; Ability to effectively present information to management and public groups; Ability to produce clear, concise, and clinically appropriate records.REASONING ABILITYAbility to read, analyze, and interpret medical records, journals, reports, and legal documents; Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community; Ability to effectively present information to management and public groups.PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to run, walk, sit and drive a vehicle. The employee must be able to move and/or lift a student when clinically necessary, and must be able to follow a student that AWOLs in a walking or running pace. Applying SPA restraint techniques can involve lifting the student, holding the student down in a standing, sitting or ground level manner, as well separating clients who are acting in an unsafe manner to ensure the safety for the clients and staff. Due to the emotional instability of the clients the employee may be subjected to kicking, hitting, punching, biting, hair pulling, etc. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.WORK ENVIRONMENTThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.DIVERSITY STATEMENTThe San Diego Center for Children is committed to:Actively recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse staff at all levels of the organizationEnsuring that diverse perspectives are included in the development and implementation of policies, practices and services, and that individuals feel empowered to advance our mission within an atmosphere of trust, safety, and respectEncourage and provide access to professional development in order to deliver equitable and culturally informed services to the population we serveMINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:Valid California Driver’s License and must be 21 years of age or older.Master’s degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Psychology, or a related field.Licensure or eligibility for licensure in California (e.g., LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, Ph.D.)Experience working with children and adolescents in therapeutic settings, preferably within a school environment.Strong case management skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.PREFERRED REQUIRMENTS:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate (CPR)Safe and Positive Approaches (SPA)Standard First AidExperience with latency and adolescent age groups, familiarity with co-occurring disordersBilingual (English/Spanish) #J-18808-Ljbffr SAN-Diego-Center-For-Childre