Therapist | Hope Therapeutic Day Academy - Springfield, IL

Job Description

Job Description

Therapist -  Full-time Opportunity in Springfield, IL!

Salary = $65,000-$70,000 (based on experience)

SUMMARY

To provide an integrated model of mental health service delivery to children who have significant emotional difficulties and behavioral needs. The therapist will ensure that all intrusive interventions used within the program have been evaluated by peer review and are supported by scientific evidence of effectiveness.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING  

1. Master’s degree in human service or related fields (i.e. Counseling, Psychology, Social Work).
2. Understanding of children experiencing emotional and behavioral disturbances, and of the treatment techniques appropriate for guiding development of age appropriate, adaptive behaviors.
3. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively (both written and orally) in a professional manner, with all levels of employees (professionals, teachers, paraprofessionals, home school personal, district 186 administrators, etc.), and the ability to work closely with parents of the students served.  Ability to interact effectively on a multidisciplinary team.
4. Working toward licensure within respective discipline. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

1. Individual Therapy: The therapist shall meet with each youth for individual therapy sessions for the purpose of reducing or replacing symptoms associated with the student’s emotional, cognitive or behavioral difficulties.    
2. Group Therapy: Students should receive therapy and supports to improve their emotional or functioning deficits and replace maladaptive behaviors.  The therapist will facilitate group therapy sessions to include positive social skill development, anger management techniques, problem-solving and moral decision-making skills, appropriate coping techniques, team-building skills, communication skills, life skills, etc.   A token economy system is used to reinforce appropriate behavior choices and to motivate group participation.
3. Parent Contact and Support: The therapist shall provide support for each student by maintaining contact with parents. and initiating phone communication as needed.   This may also include family therapy sessions.  In addition, it is expected that the therapist will also serve as a liaison with community organizations to assist the student and family in obtaining needed services.
4. Consultation and Communication w/ Schools, Providers & Organizations: Weekly consultation with school personnel and participation in quarterly intra-agency “core team” meetings is expected in certain circumstances, there may be a need for the therapist to serve as a liaison by linking a student’s family with a community organization that may be able to provide beneficial services to promote growth for the youth and/or his family.   
5. Student Behavior Management Plans: Therapeutic behavioral services are direct interventions with a youth individually or in groups with the purpose of improving or maintaining the client’s ability to function in a socially acceptable manner in a variety of life situations.  The therapist will monitor each student’s individualized behavior management plan to include determining and tracking target behaviors, compiling behavioral data, and providing information about outcomes to all entities involved with each youth. Reinforcement strategies and interventions may be either newly initiated or continued as part of the student’s behavior management plan.
6. Data Collection and Analysis: Students’ target behaviors, as well as physical and emotional symptoms are tracked on a daily basis to allow the therapist to derive information to systematically analyze trends and fluctuations of maladaptive behaviors.  It is expected that the therapist will provide outcomes and results to clinical staff, parents, and school district personnel, as well as to review committees (e.g. Behavior Treatment Committee, and Human Rights Committee)
7. Work closely with community schools and personnel by providing consultation services to assist with the implementation of necessary behavior support strategies in the classroom.  
8. Attend and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.  Review client progress, share assessment results, and/or make recommendations regarding intervention/treatment techniques.  
9. Participate in student transition to a less restrictive setting by planning with and supporting students, families, clinical staff, community organizations and school personnel. 
10. Develop policies and procedures and participate in program planning and development. 
11. Provide direction and guidance to internship students working with the HTDA Program.
12. Maintain student records, client notes and assessment results.
13. Participate in ongoing professional development by continuing education, attending workshops and conferences, and maintaining compliance with active professional licensure requirements.   
14. Establish personal goals for professional growth; participate actively in problem solving; provide solution-oriented and proactive recommendations; maintain effective and respectful interactions; communicate clearly and effectively; practice in accord with APA ethical standards.
15. Perform other duties as assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.
16. The Therapist is responsible for providing individual and group therapy with students; maintaining close contact with parents and family therapy; consulting with home school personnel; communicating with other mental health providers or community organizations; monitoring individualized behavior management plans; collecting, tracking and analyzing data; Participation in multi-disciplinary team meetings is expected, to include inter-agency staffings (e.g. Admission, Discharge, Individual Education Plan development, etc.)  and regular internal reviews during agency Rounds meetings, 90 Day reviews of intrusive interventions (e.g. restraints, psychotropic medications, room Time Out, or other actions requiring restriction of rights) quarterly intra-agency student planning with schools and families.
17. In addition, the therapist will consult with school personnel, families, and other individuals who work directly with the youth, to assist them in using appropriate behavioral and clinical techniques when engaging and supporting each youth to achieve targeted objectives and grow towards reaching their highest potential.

WHAT YOU WILL GET 

• 23 days of PTO annually, 11 paid holidays 
• Voluntary health, dental, vision, flexible spending options 
• Short- & long-term disability, life and AD&D 
• Tuition reimbursement for employees and dependents  
• 3% 401(k) profit share and $300 annual match after 1000 hours. 
• Workforce culture focused on employee engagement and recognition 

Hope is an equal opportunity employer. 

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