BRIGHT BEGINNINGS THERAPIST (Ages 3-5)

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview  

Provides counseling and therapeutic support to students at local preschools and Head Start programs, ages 0-5.  Work with individuals, families, and groups to provide evaluation, assessment, service planning, direct psychotherapy services, health and wellness, and training to children and families of the Head Start. This role shall also provide training and mental health consultation services to the Head Start staff. Therapist will assist students, families, and schools in developing comprehensive behavioral health plans to address needs that may interfere with student educational success and overall well-being. The therapist will provide services in the office, community, or in the schools.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities  

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities are listed for Therapists .

Knowledge:  

• Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological or social work research methods; and the assessment and counseling modalities of behavioral and affective disorders. 
• Knowledge of principles, theories, models, methods, and procedures for counseling of physical/mental/emotional/behavioral dysfunctions in the capacity of individual, family, and group therapy. 
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. 
• Knowledge of principles and methods for psycho-educational instruction for group counseling and the measurement of training effects. 
• Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins. 
• Knowledge of counseling rules and ethics.

Skills: 

• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. 
• Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. 
• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. 
• Actively looking for ways to help people. 
• Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. 

Abilities: 

• The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. 
• The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. 
• The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.  It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. 
• The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. 
• The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). 

Position Duties and Responsibilities 

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Therapist . 

• Perform needs assessment and goal plan through interview, observation, client and guardian input completely and within designated time frame as determined by supervisor/agency policy.
• Assist students, families, and schools in developing comprehensive behavioral health plans to address needs that may interfere with student educational success and overall well-being.
• Facilitate therapy sessions as prescribed on their treatment plan, which may be held weekly, bi-weekly, or more frequently as determined by their plan.
• Provide progress summaries to the Head Start director and provide updates to the teacher.
• Family therapy will be offered for each student served. Family services may be received in the school, in the family’s community, or YCC’s outpatient office.
• Attend quarterly Health Service Advisory Committee and Disability Advisory Board meetings as scheduled and available.
• Submit and provide a written report to Head Start on all assessments and therapy sessions and submit and complete required documentation (summary reports, contact log, etc.) and ensure that the date, time, services, and interventions provided are specified.
• Therapists will attend and participate in all assigned child study reviews and/or consultations as identified by Head Start and as available. 
• Provide monthly scheduled on-site mental health consultation for each Head Start center as a resource to families for asking questions and seeking mental health assistance. 
• Enter all data entry input and submit all necessary data entry instruments to the quality improvement department completely, accurately and within the designated time frames.
• Prepare, maintain and document all components of the client file in a timely manner, completely, according to clinical and documentation requirements set forth by supervisor/agency policy.
• Close cases and files, completing all discharge data entry and documentation requirements completely and in a timely manner set forth by supervisor/agency policy.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in managing client length of service through- evaluating need, establishing goals with measurable objectives and providing services showing resolve of identified problems.
• Perform outreach efforts demonstrated through production of referrals and/or professional contacts for supervisor follow up.
• Demonstrates organizational and time management skills through timely responses to emails, deadlines and requests, and attention to detail in meeting task requirements.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills through display of flexibility, creativeness and ingenuity in meeting expectations and facing client and task oriented challenges.
• A positive and professional workplace manner, including verbal and nonverbal communication, demonstrated through excellent customer service with clients, all workplace colleagues and community.
• Responsible for completion of training objectives within established timeframes.
• Attend work related meetings as required.
• All other duties assigned.

Education and Experience 

Education and Experience:  Master's degree in social work, mental health counseling, or related area of study from an accredited college or university recognized by the Florida Department of Education and two years of related experience in social work or counseling with at-risk youth and families; licensed-eligible in the State of Florida (registered intern eligible or above). Hold an Infant Mental Health certification and/or a Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) certification. A valid Florida driver’s license and safe driving record is required.

Mathematical Skills and Reasoning Ability

Basic and/or advanced computational skills may be necessary.

Physical Demands 

This is a sedentary position, and the incumbent will be required to sit approximately 70 per cent of the time.   Little to moderate lifting of less than 25 lbs. may be required.

Work Environment

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.