Child & Adolescent School Based Therapist

Job Scope:

Join a diverse team of counselors and social workers providing mental health services in a collaborative and welcoming school and community setting. Gain supervised clinical experience, with opportunities for continuing education throughout the year. Child & Adolescent Mobile Therapists for Northwest Suburban School Districts provide behavioral health services to individuals ages 3-24 years old and their families within a school District, and within KYC’S service area. Therapists will provide crisis support and wrap around services, comprehensive mental health assessments, engage client/ families in treatment planning and motivational enhancement while planning evidence-based services to most effectively attain the client’s/ family’s clinical goals. Services will be provided where needed by the client and school district including but not limited to school, in client homes, in clinic, telehealth, or within the community where appropriate. Specific team assignments and duties will be determined based on clinical expertise, experience, interest and credentials.

Essential Functions: The work environment characteristics, responsibilities, and competencies described here are representative of those an employee encounters and is required to perform while meeting the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

I. Responsibilities

A. Clinical Responsibilities

1. Provide comprehensive mental health assessment and treatment planning services to clients.

2. Provide individual, family, and group therapy services.

3. Collaborate with clients and their families to create treatment plans reflecting client’s preference for care and demonstrating medical necessity.

4. Provide crisis, stabilization and support services to clients and their parents. This may include but are not limited to the following:

a. Support school personnel with screening potential crisis calls.

b. Provide training to school personnel on crisis intervention.

c. Provide crisis intervention services by assessing client’s potential need for a higher level of care/SI/HI

d. Provide case management services to assist clients and their families with access to needed benefits and services

e. Provide coordinated care by initiating or participating in client centered consultation with other internal and external providers.

f. Assist in establishing effective communication between the Center, other social agencies serving clients, and the community

5. Facilitate linkage to other services provided at KYC based on assessed need.

6. Attend staffings or meetings as needed to coordinate care and services for the School District clients.

B. Administrative and Performance Requirements

1. Work cooperatively with internal and external team members to assure clients timely access to quality services.

2. Meet agency quality and compliance standard by accurately completing clinical documentation and service reporting in accordance with agency requirements.

3. Meet or exceed service productivity target.

4. Implement evidenced based practices to ensure use of effective and efficient treatment that best address client needs.

5. Participation in staff trainings and development seminars.

6. Become familiar with and utilization of outside resources as needed to provide comprehensive services to clients.

7. Participate in staff trainings and meetings, performance appraisals and supervision with The Supervisor of C&A School Mobile Therapy Services.

8. Meet or exceed productivity target.

9. Participate in program evaluation and development of service options that best address client needs.

10. Become familiar with and utilize outside resources, as needed, in order to provide comprehensive services to clients.

I. General Competencies

A. Promote positive image of KYC with all contacts (customers)

B. Exhibit high quality work

C. Be a productive member of the staff

D. Demonstrate cooperation

E. Take the initiative to act on own

F. Use excellent judgment

G. Communicate clearly

H. Make use of supervision

I. Contribute to the development of a culture of care

II. Core Competencies

A. Provide Screening and/or Crisis Assessment and Intervention Services

B. Complete Comprehensive Behavioral Health Evaluations and Assessments

C. Provide Treatment/Care Planning and Services

D. Provide Transition (linkage, discharge planning) Services

III. Special Competencies

A. Demonstrate knowledge of child and adolescent development and treatment theory, emotional disorders, and community-based systems, including schools.

IV. Clinical Competencies

A. Ability to effectively engage children in care

B. Ability to assess children in crisis

C. Ability to diagnose mental health disorders in children/youth

D. Knowledge of statues and codes pertaining to minors

V. Education and Requirements

A. Masters Degree from an accredited College or University in Social Work, Psychology.

B. One to three years of experience working with children and adolescents.

C. Valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and reliable transportation required.

D. Excellent driving record.

E. Computer skills required.

VI. Work Environment

A. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting when appropriate

B. Roughly one quarter of the employee’s time will be spent in the community driving to schools, library, office sites, within the community, and client homes.

C. While in transit, the employee may experience changing road and whether conditions

D. In conducting, screenings and follow ups with the family, an employee may be exposed to varied residential environments based on assigned caseload.

VII. Travel Requirements

A. While performing the duties of this position, the employee travels by automobile frequently and is exposed to changing weather conditions.

B. While conducting external KYC business or traveling between sites, the employee may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles as well as changing road conditions.

VIII. Physical Demands

A. 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.

B. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk and hear.

C. The employee is regularly required to drive in the community and must be able to use their faculties to drive safely and in compliance with Illinois laws

IX. Chain of Authority

A. Reports to Supervisor of C&A School Mobile Therapy

X. Schedule/Time Keeping

A. Exempt, Full-Time, 37.5 hour work week

B. Time Keeping – Accurately record hours worked in the electronic timekeeping system (on a daily basis when possible) in accordance with the timekeeping policy and practice.

Kenneth Young Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer