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Job Overview:
The therapist position is responsible for providing therapy in CFA’s outpatient department, including the Social Competency and STEP programs (known as Autism Specialized Services). Key responsibilities include providing group, individual and family therapy, intake assessment and related documentation. This position has dual reporting to the Directors of Outpatient and Social Comp/STEP programs.
Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate and facilitate group therapy with participants in Social Competency and STEP programs, reflective of the group’s developmental level and clinical needs
• Supervise clients in SC and STEP to ensure safety
• Guide new employees in understanding appropriate responsiveness to clients in group setting
• Provide individual and family therapy sessions for clients engaged in outpatient therapy
• Meet with the client and family to gather history, current concerns, medical information, other service provider information, previous evaluations, school information, etc. in order to determine a provisional diagnosis and recommend an appropriate level of care pertaining to the client’s treatment needs, as well as writing a comprehensive report following any intake interviews that will be incorporated into the individual’s evaluation
• Be available to provide services during program hours, which include evening and Saturday hours. Base schedule is 10-6, Monday through Thursday, and 9:30-2:30 on Saturday
• Meet with client and responsible guardian (if client is a minor) to conduct and complete a Level of Care Assessment
• Review all information gathered, including previous evaluations, IEP’s and treatment plans to complete the intake process
• Complete and submit all billing information for Level of Care Assessments, intake sessions and therapy sessions
• Implement the Center for Autism’s clinical philosophy by emphasizing the importance of individualized assessment and treatment planning
• Complete all relevant documentation
• Provide guidance to interns/volunteers in understanding appropriate responsiveness to clients as assigned by supervisors and/or Program Director
• Collaborate with members of the identified client’s treatment team
• Performs other job-related duties in area of responsibility as assigned

Skills:

• Communication

• Express oral information clearly and concisely
• Express written information clearly, concisely, and legibly
• Use effective listening skills: pay attention, give thoughtful consideration, and demonstrate regard for the feelings and needs of others
• Take responsibility for clarity of information conveyed and received
• Communicate using tact, discretion, and diplomacy at all times
• Convey relevant information in a timely way
• Understand and interpret a client’s communicative intent and respond to it by intervening based on the child’s communication
• Initiate and maintain a shared experience with a client

Professionalism

• Regular and timely attendance at work
• Effective time management: prioritize and organize activities and tasks so that work is completed in a timely manner
• Timely attendance at meetings
• Consistent, independent completion of assignments
• Maintain up to date knowledge of research & treatments relevant to the ASD client population
• Maintain up to date knowledge of pertinent community resources for the ASD client population
• Demonstrate understanding of role, boundaries of role and how role fits into the organization
• Take ownership and responsibility for role
• Follow established policies and procedures
• Accurately represent the Center’s philosophy and values
• Maintain the Center’s standards of quality
• Take responsibility for own learning and professional development
• Contribute to the positive development of new services and programs
• Actively participate with supervisors in performance management process

Teamwork

• Demonstrate awareness of responsibility towards common goal
• Demonstrate a clear willingness to help in all work situations
• Provide coverage, as necessary, for all services in absence of another outpatient therapist
• Adapt to changing demands
• Present suggestions in a constructive and objective manner
• Recognize and value the contributions of others: demonstrate regard for multiple perspectives
• Work to create group cohesion
• Continuously assess effectiveness of treatment interventions with members of the team

Problem Solving

• Assess problems with accuracy
• Based on assessment, make decisions best suited to meeting the needs of the situation
• Discern between immediately pressing situations and longer-term ones
• Mitigate problem situations by using a constructive, professional approach
• When necessary and suited to context, gather additional information, and consult other resources
• Consider other perspectives and multiple options
• Generate alternative approaches to problem
• Implement solution(s) effectively
• Demonstrate awareness of consequences and/or implications of judgments

Integrity

• Deal with others in a fair, honest, and straightforward manner
• Honor commitments
• Demonstrate trustworthiness
• Take responsibility for failures and share credit for successes
• Demonstrate high ethical standards

Caring and Empathy

• Demonstrate interest/concern on behalf of another person
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of others
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance and unique qualities of others without regard to gender, race, or other defining characteristics
• Interact with clients in nurturing and respectful way

Cultural Competency

• Demonstrate respect for, understanding of and knowledge of the differences among people as it relates to values, lifestyles, norms, beliefs, and opportunities
• Demonstrate an awareness of one's own culture and how it impacts his/her perspective and interactions with others
• Recognizes partnership of parents/guardians in the treatment of their children

Other

• Take responsibility neatness of personal space
• Report safety hazards

Experience:
A minimum of one-two (1-2) years direct care experience with the population currently being served (i.e.: individuals with Autism, children, adolescents and/or young adults)

• Participation in and completion of all mandatory in-services
• Participation in at least ten (10) hours of documented additional in-services
• Act 33 & 34 clearance

Physical Requirements:

• Employee must have the physical ability to play on the floor and run with/after Clients and lift supplies
• Be able to comfortably perform a series of flexibility exercises
• Must be able to move (repeatedly) from a standing to kneeling position and back
• Have the ability to bear weight on each knee
• Must be able to lift and carry approximately 1/3rd of their body weight

Education Requirement:

• Master’s Degree from an accredited program in an area of human services, which includes but may not be limited to the following: social work, psychology, counseling, and/or marriage and family therapy

Salary:

• Commensurate with education and experience
• Grade 17

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person