Therapist (MSW;MHC)

Mental Health Therapist - Close to Home Non-Secure Placement Aftercare Program

Reports To: Assistant Director

Location: 692 Blake Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; (Some Evenings Required. Position requires to staff to be on site. Hybrid schedules based on program needs & at leadership discretion)

Salary Range: 61k-72K based on relevant post-education, experience, and NYS License.

Job Summary: The NSP Aftercare program provides support to youth and their families following the youth's release from residential placement back into their communities. The Therapist provides short-term individual child and/or family therapy for youth and families in the aftercare program to promote successful adjustment back to the community. This position provides comprehensive assessment and treatment to address identified personal, behavioral, or family issues, utilizing a strength-based approach that focuses on youth and family development. All work is trauma-informed and ensures that the Sanctuary 7 commitments are embedded into practice, and that the tools of this model are utilized when appropriate to address the trauma symptoms of the population. The therapist provides Solution-focused, brief therapy, in-home, strength-based, comprehensive services to families whose children have been involved in the Juvenile Justice System and are back or transitioning back into the community.

Major Duties:

• Administer individual mental health assessments, including but not limited to the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children.
• Provide solution-focused brief therapy, individual, family, and group counseling, as well as short-term crisis intervention, including advocacy and outreach for designated caseload using agreed-upon models, including CBT/TF-CBT.
• Empower families through impactful therapeutic interventions and insightful assessments—delivered flexibly via in-office sessions, telehealth, and personalized home visits.
• Drive meaningful transformation in family functioning through dynamic therapeutic services and insightful assessments—offered in-office, via telehealth, and directly in the home to meet families where they thrive.
• Complete bi-annual treatment plans, psycho-social assessments, and trauma-based assessments on each assigned youth.
• Facilitate and/or participate in psycho-educational groups.
• Help and/or support youth through mental health crises.
• Facilitate long-term referrals to alcohol, substance abuse, and mental health treatment facilities and other service providers, including escorting to appointments as needed.
• Participate in Administration for Children Services (ACS) conferences, including Elevated Risk & Transition Conferences.
• Participate in Treatment Team meetings to collaborate with Treatment team members to develop a discharge plan for the youth.
• Provide youth and families with support to utilize and/or practice effective coping, communication, and self-care skills to promote for the de-escalation of crisis and processing of crisis situations.
• Participate in Aftercare staff/team meetings and trainings.
• Complete necessary documentation and maintain appropriate utilization of databases (Connections and Evolv),
• Learn and support youth in the Aftercare program to apply the Missouri Approach as they transition back to their natural groups.
• Effectively use and practice the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self-care, when applicable, in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss, and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment.
• Ability and willingness to be trained in and utilize Safety Crisis Management (SCM) skills and techniques.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Social Work Or Mental Health Counselling Required.
• NYS LMSW or NYS LMHC Required.
• Bilingual (English/ Spanish/Creole) preferred.
• Willingness to work in the community and provide in-home therapy to families.
• Ability to use public transportation throughout the city.
• Valid Driver's license strongly preferred.
• Experience with in-home family therapy strongly preferred.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including Saturday schedule if needed.
• Excellent organizational, written, and communication skills.
• Must have a commitment to work from a restorative, strength-based, trauma-informed, and youth development perspective.

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.