Family Therapist - FFAST

By joining the San Diego Center for Children, you will empower children and families through transformative mental health care and educational services. Our vision is to inspire a world where children and families live joyful, healthy lives. We serve over 1,000 people every day - are you ready to make an impact?

Join us - and work with purpose!

POSITION BENEFITS

• Team-Oriented, Multidisciplinary Approach
• Ongoing, High-Level Learning and Development Opportunities
• Culturally Diverse Environment
• Joint Commission Accredited Organization
• Comprehensive Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet)
• Retirement Savings Plan: 403(b) - With Employer Match Up To 3%
• Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick Leave, Holidays)
• Wellness Programs
• EAP - Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Or Assistance For Continuing Education
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Recognition Program
• Opportunities For Career Advancement
• May Be Eligible For State Or Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs For Work With Underserved Populations

SUMMARY

Family Therapists provide children, youth, and their families an array of culturally competent and trauma-informed therapeutic services, and work in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team. In addition to therapeutic interventions, FFAST Family Therapists must provide case management, ongoing collaboration with external professionals, discharge planning for the children/families and maintain collaborative partnerships with the youth and families they serve. Family Therapists also serve as Intensive Care Coordinators.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Other Duties May Be Assigned)

• Provides crisis phone, or in person, support to families outside of normal working hours as needed.
• Required to be available evenings and occasional weekends as assigned or as youth/family needs dictate. Displays a commitment to anti-racism and engages in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within clinical work, the program, and the organization.
• Fulfills all contractual and organizational training requirements.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director and/or Program Managers.

THERAPEUTIC SERVICES

• Provides general orientation of child/youth and family to FFAST program and treatment options.
• Carries caseload as assigned, typically 12-14, based on program and productivity needs.
• Completes comprehensive intake assessment that includes mental health, physical health, risk, trauma, etc.
• Formulates, monitors, and revises a comprehensive client plan, which addresses specific short-term and long-term goals, for the child and family based on assessments and input from the multi-disciplinary treatment team.
• Assists families in creating crisis/safety plans as needed to prevent/respond to unsafe behaviors or environments that may exist in the home or community.
• Follows Medi-Cal, County BHS, and PWB requirements, including those related to teaming, collaboration, documentation, use of proper service codes, scheduling of CFT meetings, and other responsibilities as assigned.
• Facilitates a wide array of therapeutic interventions within individual/family therapy based on relevant EBPs and best practice models (e.g., TF-CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Positive Discipline, PCIT-PRIDE Skills, etc.).
• Maintains accurate, complete, and timely records per applicable regulations and requirements (e.g., EPSDT, PWB).
• Maintains strong commitment to CYFSOC principles in the treatment provided to youth and families.
• Utilizes supervision, consultation, and training to provide high quality services in an effective manner.

COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

• Maintains regular communication with FFA Social Worker (minimum twice monthly), County Social Worker (minimum once monthly), and other important team members (biological parents, teachers, CASA's, psychiatrist, etc.). to coordinate treatment efforts and connect youth to community resources as needed.
• Maintains clear, effective, and open communication with internal staff/programs and with community partners.
• Maintains positive relationships with stakeholders and responds to their needs promptly.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret medical records, journals, reports, and legal documents; Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community; Ability to effectively present information to management and public groups; Ability to produce clear, concise, and clinically appropriate records.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret medical records, journals, reports, and legal documents; Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community; Ability to effectively present information to management and public groups.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to run, walk, sit and drive a vehicle. The employee must be able to move and/or lift a student when clinically necessary, and must be able to follow a student that AWOLs in a walking or running pace. Applying SPA restraint techniques can involve lifting the student, holding the student down in a standing, sitting or ground level manner, as well separating clients who are acting in an unsafe manner to ensure the safety for the clients and staff. Due to the emotional instability of the clients the employee may be subjected to kicking, hitting, punching, biting, hair pulling, etc. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. 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.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

The San Diego Center for Children is committed to:

• Actively recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse staff at all levels of the organization
• Ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in the development and implementation of policies, practices and services, and that individuals feel empowered to advance our mission within an atmosphere of trust, safety, and respect
• Encourage and provide access to professional development in order to deliver equitable and culturally informed services to the population we serve

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related Health Services or equivalent Education.
• Must be a Registered (ACSW, AMFT, APCC) or Licensed (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC) with the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences or CA Board of Psychology
• California Driver's License with good driving record
• Insured vehicle and able to drive for work including occasional transport of clients

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Child and Family Team process
• Experience or training in foster care culture, providing culturally competent services to diverse populations
• Relevant EBPs, trauma informed care, San Diego County MIS.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).