Job Description

The School Based Mental Health Therapist works full time in a partner school. This position involves implementation of a workplan that is co-created with school partners that includes three tiers of school based behavioral health services: prevention, early intervention, and treatment. Prevention and Early Intervention Services may include the organization of materials and content related to children’s mental health and the delivery of workshops and training to students, parents, teachers, and staff. Moreover, it may include the delivery of mental health awareness activities that serve to educate the community on destigmatizing the utilization of mental health services, reducing access barriers to care. The therapist is also responsible for providing the following core services in a school setting: receipt of referrals from wellness team (or from students and parents directly), intakes, diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, counseling and psychotherapy, and discharge planning. This position works in tandem with the school’s wellness teams to develop an annual workplan that outlines the activities the team will commit to and what parts the Mary’s Center School Based therapist will implement. These activities can vary by school, but all include all 3 tiers of service, should be aligned with the work plan, and should be part of the menu of services the program provides.

Reportability

The School Based Mental Health Therapist will report directly to a Senior Clinical Manager of School Based Mental Health.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Be an active member of the school wellness team that coordinates mental health and wellness activities in the assigned school.
• Participate in the School Strengthening Tool Process and in the development of a Workplan that outlines the 3 tiers of service that the team is responsible for.
• Provide consultations for teachers to give guidance and feedback on classroom management for students with mental health disorders
• Deliver Prevention Services in assigned school to include introductions to Mary’s Center program and other Mary’s Center services, classroom presentations, parent presentations, teacher wellness activities, sharing of monthly tip sheets, and other activities that support mental health and wellness
• Deliver Early Intervention Services to involve groups for at risk students or caregivers, crisis intervention activities, and other activities that identify students to be at risk.
• Implement curriculums for students on stress management, suicide prevention, substance abuse or other concerns deemed pertinent to the need of assigned school site.
• Deliver treatment services to students in assigned school to include review of intake packet and all relevant consent forms, diagnostic assessment, individualized educational plan, annual revisions of DAs, discharge summaries, and aftercare planning.
• Deliver treatment services in a variety of ways: individual treatment of students, group therapy, family therapy, and parent coaching.
• Participate in rotating on call after hours on call system about once every 12-14 months. This comes with an added $200 per week compensation.
• Provide individual, group, and family therapy to assist clients in their insight development and individual service system plan goals achievement
• Maintain a caseload to complete at least 18 face-to-face encounters weekly.
• Apply crisis management skills when necessary to stabilize the clients in the program and within the school setting
• Participate in the school support team and other entities to promote the socio-emotional and academic wellness of students
• Complete Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) every three months per funder requirement as well as other pertinent screening tools and assessments deemed important for diagnosis and treatment
• Document all contacts, referrals and other necessary information in electronic medical records system, eCW, and follow up on any claims or feedback on quality
• Accept and integrate the family’s values and culture into initial conversations and ongoing care
• Explain worker’s role, responsibilities and client’s rights, including confidentiality and mandated reporting
• Maintain client records that are accurate, comprehensive and adhere to documentation policies
• Complete billing and documentation requirements on a timely basis, within 48 hours of service provision
• Meet billing expectations that are determined on a yearly basis
• Understand and apply state and federal confidentiality regulations regarding clients’ records and correspondence
• Maintain service delivery statistics for funder and provide reports on a weekly and monthly basis
• Participate in and help facilitate case reviews on clients
• Participate in organization-wide and division-wide meetings and committees, departmental meetings and other meetings/conferences as assigned.
• Participate in Community of Practice Meetings that support the building of evidence-based interventions in school mental health
• Identify and participate in other training or committees that can further professional growth
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Clinical Manager or Director of School-Based Mental Health

Qualification

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• This position requires a master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field
• A master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field and a license (LGPC, LGSW, LPC, LICSW) in the District of Columbia.
• Within 6 months of hire, candidates will need to be licensed in both the District of Columbia and Maryland.
• Working knowledge of Windows and Word; knowledge of patient confidentiality issues and HIPAA compliance/regulation are essential.

Language Requirement – Ability to communicate effectively in English is required. The ability to communicate in Spanish is preferred but not required.

Physical Demands – Regularly required to sit; frequently required to reach with hands and arms, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk or hear; must be able to lift objects up to twenty-five (25) pounds.

Work Environment –Mostly in a typical office setting within a school with quiet to moderate noise level. May be exposed to extreme cold, heat, and humidity due to outside weather conditions. This position is located full time at one of Mary’s Center partner school sites.

The Benefits:

• Health Insurance: medical, dental & vision – plus retirement options through 403(b) contribution and investment opportunities
• 25 days of paid leave annually (in addition to paid holidays), plus 5 educational days
• Tuition reimbursement of $2750/year towards education assistance and professional development. Reimbursement is pro-rated based on the employee's regularly scheduled hours worked per week
• Transportation subsidy via metro & bus
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)