School Based Therapist

DeKalb Community Service Board

As an important member of our multi-disciplinary team, provides assessments, individual and group counseling, family counseling, and other treatment modalities within an evidence-based framework within the school environment. Demonstrates strong clinical judgment in assessment, application of diagnostic criteria, clinical formulations, and sound triage decisions. Actively contributes to the treatment center, organization and school system through on-going collaborative efforts. Provides counseling/therapy to clients requiring complex intervention, including those who are homicidal, suicidal, or exhibit life-threatening behaviors, determines necessity for involuntary commitment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Assess/Screens More Complex Cases

• Performs thorough bio psychosocial assessment of the less complex to more complex clients and documents the assessment within agency guidelines
• Utilizes information from multiple sources as appropriate in the formulation of client driven treatment planning
• Ability to work from and promote a person-centered, recovery oriented, and trauma informed philosophy in client care
• Assesses and documents response to interventions and modifies interventions as needed
• May utilize specific assessment tools regularly in evaluation of the client
• Demonstrates strong clinical judgment in assessment, application of diagnostic criteria, clinical formulations, and sound triage decisions
• Meets regularly with director as a means of enhancing professional growth, reviewing and evaluating the provision of behavioral health services, and attend to required administrative issues
• Facilitates communication between various community providers on behalf of client
• Communicates effectively with agency staff about challenges/concerns with clients
• Maintains ethical standards and immediately communicates issues of safety and/or client health changes to director
• Maintains clinical service delivery hour expectation
• Additional duties as assigned by the Director

Advanced Therapeutic Counseling

• Creates therapeutic relationship as appropriate with consumers and families/significant others
• Conducts individual, family, group counseling /therapy, and educational sessions using evidence based interventions
• Demonstrates clinical knowledge in mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorder treatment
• Demonstrates clinical knowledge of play therapy techniques
• Demonstrates documented clinical proficiency (through education, training or experience) in client engagement, interviewing and recording
• May utilize advanced certification in specialty in counseling the consumer and others

Develops and Participates in Complex Case Management/Care Planning

• Creates, communicates, and coordinates treatment plan of the students
• Demonstrates expertise in care/planning through objectives, goals and specificity of plan
• Serves as resource to school staff in demonstration of up-to-date knowledge of Claratel Behavioral Health, community, regional, and state resources
• Assist treatment team in problem solving regarding needed resources for complex consumers
• Insures timely communication with providers through proper exchange of written and verbal communication per policy and procedure.
• Document referrals, discharges, resources or other issues for problem resolution and/or utilization as required in agency policy
• May serve as a liaison in community resource activities
• Assist school staff with implementing appropriate interventions to improve the student's disciplinary and academic performance
• Serves as clinical consultant for school staff and may assist educators with developing appropriate interventions to manage emotional/behavioral concerns in the classroom
• Actively participate in parent and staff engagement events to improve relationship with school community

Professional

• Maintain licensure / certification
• Actively participates in clinical supervision
• Actively engages in behavioral health educational initiatives
• Seeks continuing education to meet current clinical needs

Skill, Competency and Education and/or Licensure Requirements

• Master's degree and licensure as a Clinical Social Worker, Professional Counselor and/or Marriage and Family Therapist is required
• Two years of related work experience, computer proficient and ability to multi-task
• Demonstrates competency in using evidence -based treatments for mental illness and addiction with children, adolescents, and young adults

Working Conditions

• Office located in school building and Outpatient mental health clinic office setting during school breaks
• Monday –Friday 8:15am-5:00pm with some evening or weekend hours (as determined by program needs).
• Ability to use a computer, telephone, fax, copy and scanning machine.

Needed Attributes

• Ability to handle self well under stressful situations.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative, flexibility, and professionalism.
• Ability to communicate well with others.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work within frameworks of a medical model and recovery model.
• Ability to work with co-occurring disorders.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with diverse populations.

Pre-employment drug screening may be required. Selected applicant will be subject of an FBI Criminal History Record Check, and the applicant has the right to challenge the contents of their Criminal History Record Information, should they choose to do so. This employer participates in E-Verify.

DeKalb CSB is an equal opportunity employer regarding disability under VEVRRA and ADA