School Based Therapist

Job Title: School Based Therapist

FLSA: Exempt

Reports To: Team Leader or Supervisor

Department:School Based Services

Summary

Clinical Masters-level staff member who provides consultation with staff and therapeutic services to students in elementary, middle or high school educational settings. The School Based Therapist delivers individual and group therapy to clients and completes assessments on identified students, and may provide consultation and professional development programs to staff. The School Based Therapist completes weekly communication with the parents and/or guardians of the clients. The School Based Therapist will complete clinical documentation of all services.

In addition to the details and requirements for the employee listed below, Laurel Life expects the employee be committed to incorporating principles of trauma informed care in all areas of service delivery. Commitment to these principles in trauma treatment will be required through attendance in trainings and use of identified evidence-based practices. Trauma informed care includes cultural sensitivity and emphasizes a safe and respectful environment for all clients and staff.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Individual therapy with students.
• Therapeutic Groups sessions with students experiencing behavior or therapeutic issues.
• Classroom observations of students.
• Weekly communication with parents and/or guardians.
• Complete clinical documentation.
• Consult with school personnel on strategies for working with students including behavioral and resiliency-based interventions.
• Services for identified special education students, including meetings with District staff, participation at IEP and other team meetings, treatment plan development, and progress documentation.
• Additional activities within the areas of expertise of staff and as requested by District.
• Create treatment goals, contribute, where appropriate, in the writing of Individualized Service Plans and/or IEP's, prepare behavior contracts, monitor student's progress, and write progress reports;
• Complete required written reports such as: progress notes and summaries.
• May facilitate learning experiences for school staff members on resiliency, behavior and classroom management, specialized treatment topics, or other learning needs as identified by school personnel.
• Collaboration with community agencies to develop cooperative and positive relationships.
• Work as a positive team member supporting the team's mission and goals, consistently working in a trusting and cooperative manner with fellow team members and supporting the team's common operating approach.
• Accepts professional responsibility and serves as a role model for positive, pro-social behavior; modeling respect, responsibility, integrity, empathy, impulse control, emotional self-awareness, and professional boundaries.
• Demonstrates commitment to professional growth by attending all required meetings, trainings and organizational trainings. Must obtain 20 hours of training or continuing educations hours each year of employment.
• Candidate will have to successfully complete and maintain certification of ESPI training. ESPI techniques are only used in compliance with Laurel Life policy and procedure and within guidelines established by third-party experts in the proper and legal use of ESPI.
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
• Employees are expected to comply with all conditions and requirements of the Employee Handbook and any amendments there to shall remain in effect.
  
  

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to develop effective and meaningful relationships with clients.
• Must be able to remain calm in a crisis situation, identify underlying causes of problem situations, resolve conflicts, and de-escalate potentially explosive situations.
• Must be a team player.
• Must have the ability to maintain confidentiality; negotiating and problem solving skills are also essential.
• Must be willing to work independently and follow defined processes. Initiative and persistence will be needed to achieve the defined goals.
• Work is completed as a member of a collaborative team in loco parentis, and, as a result, Employee must demonstrate the ability to use Emergency Safety Physical Interventions, and must utilize ESPI in compliance with Laurel Life policies and procedures, applicable laws and regulations, and guidelines established by EPSI trainers and experts.
  
  

EDUCATION

Minimum requirement is a Master's degree in a clinical area. Preferred qualifications include:

• Licensure such as Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Certified Addictions Counselor.
• Specialized learning in Resiliency & Trauma.
• Specialized learning in behavior interventions.
• Specialized learning in early intervention for younger children when services are requested.
  
  

Work Experience

Three years of experience working with children, adolescents and their families in a clinical setting is preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work setting is a school building. Clientele may at times be verbally or physically abusive. Work is completed as a member of a collaborative team in loco parentis, and, as a result, use of emergency safety physical interventions (ESPI) is required. Candidate will have to successfully complete and maintain certification of ESPI training. ESPI techniques are only used in compliance with Laurel Life policy and procedure and within guidelines established by third-party experts in the proper and legal use of ESPI.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The job description is not intended to be a contract of employment with the employee. The employee covered by this job description is an at-will employee of Laurel Life.