Clinician Licensed

Licensed Clinician

Position Summary:

This position is responsible to provide professional clinical services to youth and their families. Clinicians join with families and the community to promote long-term safety, well-being, and permanent families for the youth. Provides for the care and management of the mental health needs of the patient population of a residential care treatment center.    

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• 21 years of age
• Must have a Master’s Degree from an accredited graduate school in counseling, social work, psychology or a related field;
• Active and valid New Jersey license to practice independently including an LCSW, LMFT, LPC, PsyD, or PhD or
• An LSW who will achieve full independent licensure within 3 years of receiving their LSW practicing under the supervision of a NJ independently licensed therapist. Supervision must be provided in accordance with corresponding licensing board regulations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Ability to pass a Criminal Record History Clearance and a Child Abuse History Clearance.
• Ability to physically participate in the use of therapeutic holds and to be certified biannually to demonstrate competence.
• Ability to participate in trauma informed care and intervene appropriately to de-escalate and prevent crisis situations when necessary.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with people from differing backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to be flexible in meeting scheduling needs. Ability to work on agency holidays, as required.
• Project a professional image through in person and telephone interaction. Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively orally, in writing and on both an interpersonal and group level.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks while working under pressure.

Essential Expectations:

• Has knowledge and understanding of CFG’s mission and values.
• Follow and abide by all established program and agency protocols, policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate boundaries with staff and youth.
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings, team meetings and processes for communication concerning youth and the program.
• Attend and participate in all required trainings, both upon hire and annually.
• Achieve and maintain First Aid and CPR certification.
• Maintain a collaborative relationship with the team and other internal and external stakeholders. Provide help to other team members as needed.
• Participate in creating an overall positive community atmosphere with other staff and youth.
• Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively orally, in writing and on both an interpersonal and group level.
• Provide the team with thorough, timely, legible, accurate, objective information through documentation.
• Contribute to ensuring the facility is safe, clean and secure for all youth and staff.
• Participate in quality improvement activities.
• Demonstrate a willingness and ability to accept direction and supervision.
• Dress professionally and appropriately as outlined in the Dress Code Policy.
• Notify the State Central Registry (1-877-NJ ABUSE) whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that a youth has been or is being abused or neglected by staff members, youth, or any other person as required by the New Jersey Child Abuse and Neglect Law.
• Demonstrate a commitment to CFG’s initiative to eliminate restraint and seclusion.
• Possess the personal characteristics and experience to collaborate with and provide appropriate care to youth, gain their respect, guide their development, and participate in their overall treatment program.
• Ability to provide services in a culturally and linguistically competent manner.
• Possess the temperament to work with and care for children, youth, adults or families with special needs, as appropriate.
• Support constructive youth and family visitation and youth involvement in community activities.
• Achieve and maintain training in the Nurtured Heart Approach, a dynamic relationship-focused methodology that builds Inner Wealth™ in children, empowering them to channel their intensity in productive ways, ensuring their successful future. Staff will utilize this Approach and its 3 Stands and Recognitions on a continual basis with youth, families and their co-workers.

Specific Job Functions:

Relationships:

• Establish supportive, motivational and therapeutic relationships with youth, ensuring an atmosphere of safety, security and responsible residential care.
• Establish and maintain rapport and professional relationships with family members, community providers and agencies.

Supervision:

• Responsible for daily supervision of youth when in their care.

Daily Living:

• Supervise, observe and participate with the youth in the carrying out of daily routines (i.e. meals, school, chores, etc.).
• Serve as a role model and coach for youth regarding developing and using effective problem solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, independent living skills and responsibilities.
• Know current level of functioning of youth and appropriate needed interventions.
• Observe and document the youth’s behavior, physical and emotional symptoms and performs behavioral management interventions as needed.
• Responsible for reading and being familiar with all youth’s treatment plans.
• Carry out daily living and/or behavior plans for youth, developed by a multi-disciplinary team of staff.
• Assist youth with skill building activities.

Programming:

• Accountable for maintaining structure and following the daily schedule.
• Develop, plan, supervise and participate in daily recreational and social activities, including outdoor programs and physical exercise.
• Consistently implement all program policies and procedures including the behavioral motivational system.
• Promote and generate enthusiasm for programming.
• Consult and communicate with supervisors, directors and clinicians concerning behavior issues and the needs of the youth and the program.
• Perform light housekeeping duties to ensure a neat, clean and orderly environment.
• Transport and/or accompany individual or groups of youth to appointments or on field trips outside of the program.
• Conduct group meetings with youth to discuss program rules and procedures, address concerns and provide instructional information on appropriate behavior management and the use of daily living skills.
• Administer medication when necessary.

Clinician Responsibilities:

• All clinical services are provided under the supervision of an LCSW.
• Provide direct care, case management, counseling and services, to youth.
• Provide individual counseling to youth three times per week per youth.
• Provide weekly family counseling for each youth.
• Facilitate psycho-educational, group counseling, and family counseling groups as indicated.
• Document clinical information in an approved format in a timely manner determined by program policy.
• Maintain organized youth records.
• Provide weekly reports to Program Director;
• Produce clear, concise and informative reports for fellow team members, families and community agencies.
• Develop a comprehensive treatment plan for each youth.
• Conduct monthly treatment plan meetings for each youth.
• Utilize developed outcome measures to monitor progress of youth.
• Contact the youth’s family members weekly to discuss treatment planning, counseling and aftercare planning.
• Provide training on clinically relevant topics as indicated by the Program Director.
• Participate in weekly clinical supervision provided by the Program Director.
• Participates in extended clinical coverage by working one weekend day a month and one late night a week until at least 7pm.

Other:

• Familiar with all co-worker’s job functions so that appropriate internal referrals can be initiated as needed (i.e. nurse, clinician, and principal).
• Assigned to mandatory extra shifts when needed.
• Takes on special tasks to contribute to the overall functioning of the program (i.e., ordering supplies, shopping, fire drills, pharmacy runs, errands, etc.).
• Aid in the training of new employees on the job.
• Drive program vehicles as requested.

Training Requirements Specific to this Position:

• Handle with Care Bi-Annually
• All Training Academy Classes and ongoing training as developed

Other Duties:

• As assigned