Deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on

(Support staff salary will be based on internal equity and experience)

Position General Summary:

The Mental Health Counselor works directly with students and parents on topics related to mental health wellness. The Mental Health Counselor provides support to FLVS instructors, administrators and other staff in the areas of mental health awareness, prevention and intervention. The Mental Health Counselor collaborates with school staff and families to determine appropriate student supports and provides counseling, community referrals and pre/postvention strategies.

Essential Position Functions:

• Serve as the primary contact between parents and Florida Virtual School regarding mental health wellness and concerns

• Collaborate with school personnel, parents, community agencies, and/or students to promote optimal learning outcomes for all students

• Provide direct consultation and guidance to students and parents on matters relating to mental health, community referrals and postvention strategies

• Provide advice and consultation to teachers of students with mental health concerns

• Assist in training students, families and staff on topics related to mental health wellness and Youth Mental Health First Aid to meet state mandates

• Provide consultation, in-service training and professional development to school/district staff

• Determine the appropriate level of response for a student in distress

• Coordinate transition plans and re-entry plans to help support students in mental health distress

• Conduct mental health screenings and assessments for referred students

• Participate on school-based Threat Assessment Teams

• Monitor concerns of harm and Threat Assessment data

• Conduct individual and group counseling sessions for students regarding mental wellness

• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings to determine the instructional and/or behavioral needs of all students

• Stay abreast of state and federal legislation related to mental and emotional health

• Achieve a 90 percent or better satisfaction rating on surveys regarding the quality of service provided to teachers, students, and parents

• Assume responsibility for FLVS meeting all its student performance goals

• Participate in a minimum of three (3) FLVS presentations, in person or virtually, to various community contacts and/or educational groups each year

• Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits such as, meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, coordinating resources and meetings in an effective and timely manner, and demonstrate respect for others

• All work responsibilities are subject to having performance goals and/or targets established

(These essential functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job-related duties as required.)

Minimum Requirements:

Education:

• Master's Degree or higher in Behavior Health Sciences, Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, Psychology or related field

• Valid license by the State of Florida in one of the following disciplines: School Psychology, Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, or Clinical Psychology, Preferred

Experience:

• Three (3) years of experience working with children in education or a related field

• Five (5) years of experience in mental health and/or crisis counseling

• Experience working with adolescents with mental health and/or social emotional concerns

Knowledge, abilities and skills:

• Knowledge and understanding of all state and federal education guidelines

• Competence in the techniques to analyze and assess/evaluate the mental health needs of individual students

• Knowledge of behavioral management techniques

• Familiar with social and emotional learning competencies

• Knowledge of the DSM V and ICD-10

• Knowledge of community mental health resources/services

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and publications

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively, function independently, and interact professionally with a diverse, multicultural, and interdisciplinary staff of all levels

• Proficiency in organization and coordination skills

• Ability to work as part of a team and develop and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents and staff

• Ability to employ innovative problem-solving techniques to accomplish objectives

• Skills with all required and recommended FLVS computer applications

CORE COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS:

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Clearly and effectively conveys and/or presents information verbally; summarizes what was heard to mitigate miscommunication; Shares ideas and perspectives and encourages others to do the same; Informs others involved in a project of new developments; Disseminates information to other employees, as appropriate; Effectively uses multiple channels to communicate important messages; Keeps supervisor well informed about progress and/or problems in a timely manner; Writes in a clear, concise, organized and convincing way for a variety of target audiences; The written message is consistently error-free; The written message has the desired effect on the target audience

CUSTOMER FOCUS

Prioritizes customers (internal and external) and their needs as primary and is dedicated to meeting their expectations; Develops and maintains customer relationships; builds credibility and trust; Quickly and effectively solves customer problems; Provides prompt, attentive service in a cheerful manner; adapts to changing information, conditions or challenges with a positive attitude; Incorporates customer feedback into delivery of service to provide the best experience possible for the customer; Actively promotes FLVS in community by serving as a FLVS ambassador or volunteer

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Relates well with others; Treats others with respect; Shares views in a tactful way; Demonstrates diplomacy by approaching others about sensitive issues in non-threatening ways; Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings and capabilities of others; Fosters an environment conducive to open, transparent communication among all levels and positions; Takes the initiative to get to know internal and external customers

FUNCTIONAL /TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

Has the skills, abilities, knowledge and experience to be successful in functional area of expertise; Dedicates time and energy to keeping abreast of the latest information related to area of expertise and technology; Picks up on technology quickly; Does well in technical courses and seminars; Produces high quality work in organized and timely fashion

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS:

PEER RELATIONSHIPS

Finds common ground and solves problems for the good of all; Can represent his/her own interests and yet be fair to other groups; Solves problems with peers with minimal "noise"; Is seen as a team player and is cooperative; Easily gains trust and support peers; Encourages collaboration; Is candid with peers

CREATIVITY

Comes up with a lot of new and unique ideas; Easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions; Tends to be seen as original and value-added in brainstorming sessions; Takes calculated risks; Is not afraid to try new things and potentially "fail fast"

SELF KNOWLEDGE

Seeks feedback; Gains insight from mistakes; Is open to constructive criticism; isn't defensive; Proactively seeks to understand his/her strengths and areas for growth; applies information to best serve organization; Recognizes how his/her behavior impacts others and incorporates insight into future interactions

PLANNING

Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks and projects; Sets objectives and goals; Breaks down work into the process steps; Develops schedules and task/people assignments; Anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks; Measures performance against goals; Evaluates results

ORGANIZING

Uses his/her time effectively and efficiently; Concentrates his/her efforts on the more important priorities; Can attend to a broader range of activities as a result of organizing time efficiently; Can marshal resources (people, funding, material, support) to get things done; Can orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal; Arranges information and files in a useful manner

PROBLEM SOLVING

Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; Probes all fruitful sources for answers; Can see hidden problems; Is excellent at honest analysis; Looks beyond the obvious and doesn't stop at the first answers

DRIVE FOR RESULTS

Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; Very bottom-line oriented; Steadfastly pushes self and others for results; Is full of energy for the things he/she sees as challenging; Not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning; Consistently seizes opportunities; Consistently exceeds goals

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions:

• Frequency of travel: Occasional travel is required for meetings, trainings, conferences, student testing; location may vary and may require overnight stays

• Light physical activities and efforts required working in an office environment

(Reasonable accommodations will be made in accordance with existing ADA requirements for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability.)