Child and Family Counselor/Therapist

Job Title

Child Advocacy Center Therapist

Job Description

Exempt; full-time; 40 hours per week; Monday-Friday; 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with flexible scheduling available to meet client needs; full benefits; grant funded. This position provides individual mental health therapy for children and their families referred to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in response to potential child maltreatment. This position serves as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), participates in MDT meetings, and functions as a resource for trauma-informed approaches to working with victims. The position develops and facilitates therapeutic groups, maintains data and generates reports to support grant funding, and serves as the liaison for mental health contractual providers. This position also develops internal policies and procedures, attends county workgroups, and fosters relationships with community partners to support the coordination of care. Supervision is received from the Child Advocacy Center Department Head. NOTE: The upper pay range reflects possible wage rates for internal County transfers and promotions, which are calculated per County policy. For external hires, offers are made at the base wage rate, with limited exception.

Frederick County Government values the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to Frederick County Government today.

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE: Frederick County offers an extensive compensation package to reflect how highly we value our employees. The following is what you can expect in your first year as a full-time benefited Frederick County Government employee.

• 11 days of Vacation leave with increase after 2 years of employment
• 15 days of Sick leave with unlimited annual carryover
• 11 paid holidays, plus 2 additional floating holidays (10 and 11 month employees may not receive all holidays)
• Day 1 coverage of comprehensive Medical Insurance Plan options to include generous County Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution (if enrolled in the high-deductible plan). This is part of a full range of benefits including Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending
• Employee Health Center with no or low-cost primary and urgent care
• 100% County paid 2x annual salary Group Term Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit
• County and Employee funded Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• Work/Life balance programs include: Employee Assistance Program and Employee Wellness Program
• Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Other employee-paid benefits such as Deferred Compensation Plan, Legal Resources, Supplemental Life Insurance, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Lifetime Benefit with Long Term Care plan

NOTE: Benefited employees will accrue service and leave based on the FTE and/or hours worked per calendar year.

For more information, visit our benefits page on the Frederick County Government job opportunities webpage.

Essential Duties and Job Responsibilities

• Conduct trauma-specific assessments to determine treatment needs
• Develop individualized treatment plans and monitor symptom reduction
• Conduct evidence-supported treatment appropriate for child clients and other family members
• Participate as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) and engage in case review and case management
• Provide coordination and communication between providers and MDT members
• Serve as clinical consultant to the MDT and CAC staff regarding child trauma, evidence-based treatment, and secondary traumatic stress
• Collaborate with family advocates to support CAC clients when mental health concerns arise
• Coordinate with family advocates to facilitate timely and appropriate therapy referrals
• Maintain appropriate and timely documentation in the NCA Trak system
• Accompany children and families to court appearances and provide support throughout legal proceedings
• Advocate for clients at meetings with school staff and attend Individualized Education Plan meetings as needed
• Connect families with community resources and services
• Develop and maintain relationships with community partners to support smooth referral processes for mental health services
• Attend and participate in county workgroups related to child abuse prevention and mental health initiatives
• Develop and facilitate therapeutic groups such as teen support programs and community mentoring initiatives
• Maintain data and generate reports to support grant applications and ongoing funding requirements
• Serve as liaison to mental health contractual providers to facilitate appropriate referrals, monitor client progress, review invoices and reconcile dates of service with case documentation
• Develop internal policies and procedures for crisis and therapy services and MDT operations
• Perform other related duties as required

Qualifications and Requirements

The qualifications/requirements, knowledge/skills/abilities and physical requirements or working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Requires a Master's degree in Social Work or Counseling
• Current LMSW licensure issued by Maryland State Board of Social Worker Examiners or Current LGPC licensure issued by Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists
• Minimum of 1 year experience in human services, behavioral health, or case management

A successful incumbent operating in this role displays the following:

• Knowledge of human behavior, growth, and development (social, emotional, physical, cognitive, communication), interviewing techniques, sociology, fundamental principles of economics and social work principles and methods.
• Knowledge of philosophies, theories, practices, policies, and outcomes of the most generally accepted scientifically supported models of treatment, recovery, prevention, diagnostic criteria, treatment modalities, and placement criteria for continuing care of psychological, emotional, mental, addiction, and/or substance-related disorders and conditions
• Working knowledge of inter-relationships of social, economic and physical needs of a community in the development of comprehensive and functional plans
• Knowledge of Adverse Childhood Experiences and providing trauma informed services
• Working knowledge of developmental and intellectual disabilities
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, terminology and objectives of human services work
• Knowledge of trauma-based symptomology, child maltreatment dynamics, safety plans, and crisis intervention techniques
• Knowledge of challenges families face, such as poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, substance use/abuse and/or mental health
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and requirements regarding children and family health, disability, and mental health care
• Knowledge of trauma and neurobiology
• Skill in oral and written communication
• Skill in clinical note writing and documentation
• Strong and effective listening and assessment skills
• Strong interpersonal skills to present a pleasant, professional demeanor to the public, and to help families and individuals who may be experiencing great stress to feel welcome and supported
• Ability to provide testimony regarding clinical work when required, in accordance with confidentiality, ethical standards, and applicable laws
• Knowledge of at least one evidence-based therapeutic modality proven effective for treating trauma symptoms in children
• Ability to work with children who engage in problematic sexual behaviors
• Ability to provide own transportation to meetings

• Proficiency in spoken and written Spanish
• Licensed clinician certifications such as LCPC, LCSW-C or other closely related
• Experience providing mental health treatment to children and families
• Experience using trauma-focused treatment interventions with children
• Certification in evidence-based trauma-focused therapeutic modality

• While working in this position, the employee is required to consistently sit; occasionally stoop, reach, and perform repetitive motions; rarely lift up to 20 pounds, push up to 40 pounds and pull up to 40 pounds.
• While working in this position, the employee is required to consistently work indoors; occasionally work in noisy environments and have potential exposure to infectious diseases; rarely outdoors.

Additional Information / Examination Process

• Employees in this classification are designated as Non-Essential