Youth Counselor

Description

JOB SUMMARY

Provides ongoing therapy and skills training for children and youth with mental illness and their families. May complete intake assessments as needed to determine eligibility for services. Ability to network with schools, juvenile probation, and other social service agencies to facilitate services for children and youth. Responsible for coordination, planning, and implementation of the recovery plan. Must be a self-motivator, able to work independently and remain flexible to solve problems and crises. In-region travel is required as needed to provide services to children, youth, and families. Out of region travel may be required occasionally for trainings. Services may be provided at the school, in-home, or other community locations as needed to meet the needs of those served. Must be familiar with, and/or willing to be trained in, trauma-informed care. This includes understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of traumas, and an ability to work in a behavioral environment where staff convey dignity, respect, hopefulness, and the opportunity for choice and empowerment among consumers.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Provide ongoing therapy and skills training for children and youth with mental illness and their families in a school or home setting. Knowledge of youth issues in a rural setting. Demonstrates a positive role model to youth and advocates on their and their families behaves. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide therapy or skills training for children, youth and their families using approved modalities
• Accurately complete a uniform assessment to identify an individual’s needs and strengths as appropriate
• Must be able to utilize an electronic health record system to document collaboratively and concurrently with consumers across all processes, including assessment, service planning, and ongoing consumer-provider interactions
• Meet productivity standards set by the agency
• Communicate with referring entities, internal and external providers
• Maintain a flexible work schedule while demonstrating effective time management to meet needs of individuals and families served
• Travel between locations as assigned
• Participate in data collection activities and peer review processes as requested
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Working knowledge of mental health and substance abuse services and needs
• Clear understanding of normal and atypical childhood development
• Must have strong computer operating skills
• Ability to participate respectively as a team member during department, agency, and community meetings
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices
• Capacity for flexibility in dealing with ongoing changes in the service delivery system.
• Must have a valid Texas driver’s license, a good driving record for the past three years, and personal automobile liability insurance as required by the state of Texas.
• Bilingual ability (Spanish/English) is preferred but not required.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education: Master’s degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university required. At minimum, being provisionally licensed as an LPC-Associate, LMSW under supervision or LMFT-A within 6 months of full licensure may be considered*. Currently licensed as an LPC, LCSW, or LMFT with Registered Play Therapist credential preferred. Ability to obtain QMHP-CS status is required.

 Experience: Minimum of two years of experience with mentally ill youth in a community setting is preferred. Experience providing play therapy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, squat, lift at least 25 pounds, reach overhead, and sit for extended periods of time, including driving within the region.

* If selected for the position, Pecan Valley may be able to provide you with clinical supervision as you work to obtain your hours toward full licensure.

Salary : $4,583 - $5,833