Description

At Side by Side, we seek to improve the welfare of children and youth by helping to provide the resources, support and skills they need to develop along a healthy, age-appropriate pathway. All of our services are rooted in these core principles: 1) a strength-based approach which believes in the value and worth of each client as an individual, 2) acknowledging the importance of family relationships and encouraging positive and on-going engagement with families, peers and communities, 3) engaging children and youth in a developmentally appropriate manner that promotes resilience, self-efficacy and positive self-concept, 4) recognizing that clients’ needs are best met through holistic and individualized service delivery. 

Program Description

The Irene M. Hunt School (Hunt School) is a nonpublic day school that provides students in grades K through 12 with an individualized education tailored to their specific needs. With our committed support, students address emotional and behavioral challenges and build on their core strengths and innate desire to learn and grow.

The Hunt School provides a therapeutic environment where students develop the capability to regulate their behavior, maintain focus and resilience, and form healthy, trusting relationships – all foundational elements for lifelong learning. We supplement our comprehensive state-adopted curriculum with a wide range of enrichment for students, including exposure to music and theater. In addition to the school-wide positive behavior program and customized student support plans, students receive personalized mental health treatment and other specialized services according to their individualized education plans.

Job Summary

The Behavioral Health Clinician provides Education Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) counseling to assigned Hunt students, as contracted through the student’s home school district. The Behavioral Health Clinician is part of a multidisciplinary team of educators and other service providers to collaborate on meeting student needs. The Behavioral Health Clinician actively supports and implements a strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and youth-centered approach in working with students. The Behavioral Health Clinician will carry a caseload that averages 15 Hunt students. This exempt position may require work weeks in excess of 40 hours as well as evening and weekend work. 

Essential Duties and Functions

• Read/understand student’s IEP goals for social/emotional goals, particularly the ERMHS goal. 
• Collaborate with student’s classroom teacher, Hunt Behavioral Specialists, Assistant Director, and Director to learn about student’s current/presenting behavior, social/emotional needs, learning style, and schedule. 
• Partner with Hunt staff (and student caregivers when possible) in identifying strength-based goals for student success in attaining IEP goals. 
• Meet with student weekly as outlined in IEP/school district contract. May vary from 15 minutes, 30 minutes to 60 minutes weekly. Some students may also have a group counseling goal and/or family therapy goal which the Behavioral Health Clinician will provide.
• Attend annual and triennial IEPs for assigned students and other meetings which may require clinical guidance/input regarding assigned students.
• Responsible for writing clinical progress notes, IEP goals, progress summaries within expected school district, Hunt School, and agency guidelines and timeframes. 
• Utilize Electronic Health Record such as TIER to maintain progress notes for good clinical practice and billing purposes.
• Learn/utilize SEIS educational record database and post progress summaries/goals in a timely manner.
• Full-time Behavioral Health Clinician may oversee ERMHS student assignments and schedules, coordinating part-time clinician caseloads with supervisor. 
• Ensure culturally sensitive and relevant treatment. 

Requirements

Qualifications

• Masters in Social Work or Marriage and Family Therapy from an accredited university or college;
• Registered Intern with or licensed clinician with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences; 
• At least one year post-graduate experience working with latency age children, adolescents, and/or transition age youth;
• California Department of Justice and FBI fingerprint clearance. 
• A valid California driver's license, dependable personal vehicle for use on the job, insurable by SHS’ insurance policy based on DMV record, and proof of personal vehicle insurance. 
• Please note that Covid-19 vaccination is mandated for all Side by Side staff, except in cases of approved medical or religious accommodations.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• $62,400 and up annual salary
• Over 7 weeks off per year to start including:
• 3 weeks paid vacation for F/T employees increasing to 4 weeks vacation after 2 years of service (for all non-school based employees). 
• 2 weeks sick leave for F/T employees with 2 additional sick days for direct service staff and 4 additional for school staff
• 9 paid holidays per year
• 100% employer-paid Medical for F/T employees including platinum level Kaiser Permanente insurance or Anthem options
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Long Term Disability insurance up to $9,000 per month, plus $50,000 Life and AD&D insurance
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Professional development and other learning opportunities including unlimited access to over 1,000 behavioral health courses online
• FREE Employee Assistance Program including up to 10 complimentary personal counseling sessions per problem, per year for staff and dependents
• Employee recognition program with $1,000 bonus awards
• Employee referral bonus of up to $1,000

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Sitting for extended periods of time. 
• Walking, standing, twisting and bending for brief periods of time. 
• Occasional reaching and/or grasping using hands and/or arms.
• Regular use of hands requiring dexterity in using the telephone, computer keyboard, mouse or calculator. 
• Regularly required to talk and hear in person or by telephone. ? Visual ability to read documents and computer monitor. 
• May be required to lift up to 10 pounds.
• May be required to ascend/descend stairs.
• Ability to drive 

Note: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued new requirements for health care and congregant care facilities to decrease the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks. Based on the CDPH public health mandate, all candidates for positions at Side by Side must provide proof of vaccination. Side by Side will consider applicants with ADA and Title VII exemptions on a case-by-case basis.

Side by Side provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.