Lead School-Based Mental Health Clinician

Job Description

[2026-2027] Licensed School-Based Mental Health Clinician (Lead)

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Durham, NY

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Are you passionate about changing the lives of students? Looking for a position with clinical growth opportunities and a school schedule?

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Effective School Solutions (ESS) is currently seeking a Lead Clinician/Social Worker to join our team. ESS is one of the country’s leading providers of school-based mental health services for K-12 students. Serving over 2,000 students across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and the West Coast regions, our company was founded based on the concept of offering the types of higher acuity clinical care that students would normally receive in a private practice or private school setting within the public-school building. We are looking for an experienced, mission-aligned clinician to provide clinical services to a small group of students with significant behavioral and emotional needs. The selected candidate will also provide coaching, training, and education to the school community with the intention of creating a more trauma-attuned community. All ESS clinicians work with a highly seasoned and professional clinical management team who provide clinical expertise and partnership. This position will include extensive training to ensure that the chosen individual will have a strong knowledge of the organization's protocols and model of services. The starting salary for this role is $75,000.

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Clinical Responsibilities:

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• Leads weekly consultation sessions focused on student goals and documentation compliance with assigned clinician(s).
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• Delivers clinical interventions consistent with needs of the student and family, in a safe and ethical manner that promote and sustain academic and mental health stability.
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• Demonstrates competency in: Group Therapy, Individual Counseling, and Family Counseling.
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• Provides family programming with monthly evening Parent Support groups.
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• Understands continuum of mental health services, referring students and family to an appropriate level of care in coordination with their supervisor (such as: substance abuse services and/or IOP/PHP/In-Patient).
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• Optimizes the collaboration and coordination of the interdisciplinary team to enhance the environment of student care.
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• Demonstrates a commitment to developing strong working relationships with school administration, district leadership, teachers, and paraprofessionals.
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Professional Development Responsibilities:

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• Demonstrates a commitment to developing strong working relationships with school administration, district leadership, teachers, and paraprofessionals.
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• Consults with school administrators, teachers, and staff (including clinicians) on mental health and trauma-attuned modalities (TAM) in their school community.
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• Provide coaching and training to school administrators, teachers, and staff on mental health issues, and protocols.
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• Provide coaching and training on mental health issues to caregivers, guardians, and parents.
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• Participates in and at times leads, team meetings including but not limited to: Administrative School Meetings, ESS Town Hall meetings, ESS Supervision Meetings, and Treatment Team meetings.
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Administrative Responsibilities:

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• Submits Clinical Documentation in a timely manner, aligned with the electronic medical record.
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• Maintains current professional license and adheres to ethical standards in accordance with the governing board.
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• Consistently attends work on scheduled day and time, in professional attire and with a professional demeanor.
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• Participates in learning opportunities provided by ESS, such as Supervision Groups, and treatment planning, that will advance knowledge of clinical interventions and skills throughout the school year.
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• Collects the necessary data: grades, discipline, attendance, to ensure all metric goals are met
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• Participates in completing clinicians’ performance evaluations
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• Demonstrates the ability to develop action plans when data falls below ESS standards
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• Prepares relevant data in preparation for coordinator meetings
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Qualifications:

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• Must have 3+ years of experience treating children and/or adolescents with significant behavioral and emotional challenges.
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• Must hold a LMSW/LCSW or and LMHC in NY.
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• Experience providing training and coaching to educational professionals and parents/caregivers on student mental health issues.
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• Significant knowledge and experience in trauma-attuned modalities (TAM).
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• Worked in or has experience collaborating with school districts preferred.
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• Effective problem-solving and communication skills.
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• Experience working with students and families, plus community mental health and social service agencies.
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• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office and comfortable using a computer.
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• Must be able to complete thorough clinical documentation.
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Why join Effective School Solutions?

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• ESS is focused on addressing one of the biggest challenges our country is facing - - the mental health of our youth.
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• ESS is a dynamic organization with a strong record of accomplishment of innovation and growth.
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• ESS provides staff with excellent career growth opportunities.
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• ESS provides extensive time off tied to the school calendar, with limited summer hours. ESS prioritizes and gives value to a clinician’s work-life balance.
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• ESS offers staff competitive compensation and benefits offerings.
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• ESS values clinician voice and perspective and has multiple methods to give feedback and input on company decisions.
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ESS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.