2608-School Based Mental Health Clinician

Job Description

Job Description

School-Based Mental Health Clinician

Full-Time | Exempt, (M-F, 8:30-3:30pm) Location: First Children School – Plainfield, NJ, Compensation Range: $70,000-$90,000/annually 

About the Role

The School-Based Mental Health Clinician delivers clinical services to students with multiple disabilities who need significant support at our First Children School, collaborating with youth and families to achieve treatment goals. Responsibilities include developing and implementing service plans, offering individual and group therapy, providing clinical consultation, and ensuring timely documentation. The clinician must possess knowledge of community-based resources and adhere to relevant policies and procedures.

First Children School is a New Jersey Department of Education–approved private special education school serving students from PreK through high school (ages 3-21) with multiple disabilities, including medically fragile, developmentally, intellectually, or physically disabled students, as well as those who are deaf/hard of hearing or visually impaired.

Responsibilities

• Provide intensive clinical services to students with multiple disabilities ages 3-21 in the school setting.
• Develop and implement individualized, strengths-based service plans.
• Offer various modalities of individual therapy.
• Facilitate social‑emotional learning (SEL) group sessions for students ages 3–21, with adaptations for multiple disabilities.
• Provide clinical consultation, evaluations, and make referrals to other services.
• Complete and submit records and reports in a timely manner.
• Ensure care aligns with policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Participate in supervision and professional development.
• Maintain regular attendance, submit accurate timesheets, and adhere to company policies.
• Facilitate monthly parent support group meetings, providing guidance, resources, and a safe space for families to strengthen understanding of their child’s social‑emotional and behavioral needs.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Environment and Demands:

Environment:

• Work in a school-based setting, including classrooms, offices, and occasional home visits.

Essential Physical Demands:

• Requires walking, sitting, standing, bending, running, and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

• Involves physical interaction with students exhibiting difficulty controlling behavior.

Team Structure

This role will be part of the clinical team, reporting to the school principal.

Basic Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, counseling, or related field.
• School Social Worker or School Counselor certification from the NJDOE
• Clinical License required (LPC or LCSW)
• Minimum 1 year of experience with youth and adolescents (ages 3-21).
• Preferred: 1 year of experience with developmental disabilities and in a school setting.
• Must be able to physically assist with evacuating children during emergencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual (Spanish)
• Knowledge of play therapy, creative expression techniques, and sensory‑based counseling approaches is a strong plus, especially when supporting students with multiple disabilities.
  

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Vacation and sick pay
• Life insurance
• Short‑ and long‑term disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and discount programs
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Employee referral bonus program

Who We Are 

First Children Services is a dedicated team of professionals committed to providing exceptional services to children and families. We use a variety of effective techniques and emphasize family involvement to achieve meaningful outcomes. Our team approaches every challenge with compassion, dedication, and determination.

Equal Employment Opportunity

First Children Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other protected characteristic.

Applicants needing reasonable accommodation may email  View email address on us.fitly.work with the job title, requisition ID, and a description of the requested accommodation.