Doctoral Intern (Psychology)

Doctoral Intern is an individual participating in a field intern/trainee placement while enrolled in an accredited clinical/educational psychology doctorate degree (PsyD or PhD) program that will prepare the intern for licensure within the field of psychology.

The Intern is an energetic self-starter who is able to function comfortably in a team environment or independently and relates well to co-workers and community partners. This position requires flexibility and the ability to manage time and multiple tasks. The Intern in this position must be able to assume a wide range of responsibilities, provide timely responses to requests and deadlines. The Intern will support the strengths-based, family-centered, team-oriented community-based principles of the Agency and acquire documentation skills to meet the Los Angele County Department of Mental Health (“LAC-DMH”), Child & Family Center (“C&FC” or “Agency”) guidelines, and other third-party requirements as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Summary: Under the direct supervision of a California Licensed Psychologist, the Intern will perform the following:

1. Provide individual therapy for assigned clients (child and/or adult); collateral and family therapy to be provided as needed.
2. Co-lead a group (group therapy, coping skills group, dual-diagnoses group, or other group provided by the C&FC, based on need and Intern interest).
3. Develop understanding of the delivery of comprehensive services by working in a multidisciplinary team that includes clinicians, case managers, psychiatrist, peer advocates, and multiple specialists.
4. Develop the skills to conduct intakes (i.e., assessments and accompanying documentation), which include thorough assessment of client symptoms, mental status examination, psychiatric history, medical history, substance abuse issues, and psychosocial history to provide diagnoses and make appropriate recommendations.
5. Provide case management services as needed.
6. Provide outreach services to the community.
7. Develop the skills to complete Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LAC-DMH) and other third-party paperwork, as appropriate.
8. Participate in case conferences in which cases are discussed in detail within the interdisciplinary team (on an average 1-2 hours per week).
9. Meet individually with their supervisor(s) for 1 hour per week and/or 2 hours of group supervision per week with a minimum of 4 hours of supervision per week.
10. Attend staff meetings and attend on-site and off-site trainings.
11. Required to adhere to all LAC-DMH and other third-party payor requirements.
12. Adhere to Agency policies and procedures.
13. Provide and document direct services 50% of their time.
14. Meet any additional requirements listed in the training agreements of their respective school programs.

Approved Activities

The Intern may perform the following activities under the supervision of a California-Licensed Psychologist within their scope of practice:

• Can conduct comprehensive Assessments (other than diagnosis) but require a co-signature by a licensed psychologist.
• Can write Progress Notes but require a co-signature by a licensed psychologist.
• Can claim for individual and group psychotherapy but require oversight and co-signature of a licensed psychologist staff member; and
• Can claim for any service within the scope of practice of the discipline of their graduate program.

Direct Services

• Facilitate and/or co-facilitate rehabilitation groups and group therapy
• Provide individual therapy to children and/or adults.
• Provide collateral or family therapy to parents/caregivers of minor clients.
• May provide case management services as needed to meet the needs of the assigned clients.

Meetings

• Attend team meetings.
• Consult with inter- and intra-agency team.

Clinical Skill Development

• Develop clinical skills by way of individual, group, live, audio or video supervision and by experiential work in individual and family therapy sessions.
• Gain education and experience related to different theoretical orientations, developing treatment goals and interventions, defense mechanisms, countertransference, personality traits and disorders, etc.

Quality Assurance

• Become proficient at LAC-DMH documentation and progress notes.
• Become proficient at case conceptualization and currently used DSM diagnosis.

COMPETENCIES:

Ethical Practice: Integrate core values, integrity and accountability throughout all organizational and business practices.

• Demonstrate a high level of integrity in assuming responsibility for actions.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in varied situations.
• Demonstrate adherence to accepted ethical and behavioral standards of conduct.
• Support the agency’s Core Values and display in your work ethic: Compassionate, Empowering, Impactful, Quality and Trusted.

Critical/Clinical Evaluation: Interpret information to make decisions and recommendations.

• Good analytical skills within the scope of clinical education and experience.
• Knowledge of effective clinical treatment services for children/adolescents/TAY/adults.
• Strong diagnostic skills, knowledge of and emphasis on family systems therapy, psycho-education and group modalities.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data to determine treatment recommendations and priorities.
• Ability to prevent and manage behavior that is harmful to self or others.

Cultural Competency and Diversity: Demonstrate competency in understanding policies, procedures, practices, and organizational infrastructure to support the delivery of culturally and linguistically sensitive and appropriate health care services where culture is broadly defined.

• Ability to provide effective, equitable, understandable, and respectful quality care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy, and other communication needs. 
• Understand and utilize The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, 2013. 

Professionalism: Present and maintain a professional image in all internal and external Center activities. 

• Ability to work with clients and staff in a professional manner.
• Participate in continuing professional development.
• Ability to embrace and implement change.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness, and identify ways to improve and promote quality. 
• Adheres to Agency Policies and Procedures as all times. 
• Assumes responsibility and accountability for all job duties and individual errors; engages in correction and prevention process when errors are made. 

Results-Oriented / Work Organization/Planning: Focus on the desired result of one’s own or one’s unit work, setting challenging goals, focusing effort on the goals, and meet or exceed them.

• Set and achieve goals for self-development and progress.
• Have a strong sense of urgency about solving problems and getting work done.
• Ability to work well and maintain composure under pressure conditions.
• Ability to multi-task, set priorities and organize work responsibilities to ensure completion of assigned tasks within preset timeframes.
• Excellent organizational skills.

Relationship Management / Teamwork: Manage interactions effectively and meaningfully with individuals, groups, and/or communities.

• Ability to manage internal and external relationships in ways that promote the best interests of all parties.
• Ability to promote cooperation and commitment within a team to achieve goals and deliverables.
• Ability to treat employees, volunteers, clientele and outside entities with dignity and respect. 
• Ability to coordinate services for each individual served, and understand the individual’s needs, and the range, intensity, and duration of care, habilitation, or rehabilitation they require. 

Communication and Interpersonal Interaction: Effectively exchange information.

• Ability to effectively communicate and work cooperatively with employees, volunteers, clientele and outside entities of diverse cultures, education, social, and economic backgrounds.
• Responds to emails in a timely manner.
• Ability to provide clear, concise information to others in verbal, written, electronic and other communication formats for public and organizational consumption.
• Ability to listen actively and empathetically to the views of others.

• Ability to confront difficult issues and situations and find resolutions.

Technical Expertise: Demonstrate competency in understanding and mastering skills and technology needed to perform job duties.

• Ability to independently use standard office equipment such as fax, phone, printer, copier, scanner, computer. 

• Ability to independently use and learn necessary software programs associated with job duties such as both internal and external Electronic Health Record System(s) (EHRS) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, etc.).

WORK SCHEDULE: (subject to change based on Center’s needs)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt – Full Time, Temporary 

Length of Internship: 12 Months

Hours/Week: 40 hours per week

Actual work schedule as agreed with Direct Supervisor and based on business/program needs.

SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS:

Supervisory Requirements: None.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Requires the ability to independently use a computer and learn necessary computer programs.
• Must possess a valid California driver’s license and maintain an insurable driving record under the Clinics’ liability policy. 
• Must pass all applicable health, fingerprint/LiveScan and DMV clearances.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have a minimum of a Master’s degree from an accredited or State approved school in a related field of study.
• Enrolled in a PsyD or PhD Program in recognized program and University with whom Child & Family has an executed agreement for Intern placement.
• One year experience working with children and/or families preferred.
• At the start of the internship year, the applicant has 72 quarter units or 48 semester/trimester units of coursework, not including thesis, internship, or dissertation,
• Applicant must provide a copy of an official transcript before start date.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to: 
  1. Walk
  2. Use hands and fingers.
  3. Handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and talk or hear.
  4. Stand and sit.
  5. Reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or possibly crawl.
  6. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.