What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mental Health Professional position at Community Services for Children?
Community Services for Children is seeking a Mental Health Professional to join our team and make a difference in the lives of children and their families. The Mental Health Professional provides mental health, psychological, and behavioral health services and consultation for children, staff, and families in Head Start, Pre-K Counts, and Early Head Start programs to improve the mental health climate of a classroom and overall staff work environment.
Work Environment: We are a large, well-established, high performing organization located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley. Selected as a 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2021 Top Workplace, CSC is a leader in early childhood education. We work together to prepare young children and their families to succeed in learning – and life! Our culture encourages a growth mindset and promotes work/life balance - offering generous paid time off packages and comprehensive benefits.
Newly hired staff members will receive a $1000 net monetary incentive upon completion of probation.
Job Responsibilities:
- Provides trauma-informed, social, and emotional strategies and recommendations in collaboration with all staff to improve the mental health climate of a classroom and or program and to increase social emotional development
- Conducts classroom and in-home observations
- Provides recommendations for behavioral and social/emotional strategies to classrooms and families
- Provides mental health supports in a variety of settings, requiring transportation and flexible time management
- Builds professional relationships with agency staff, assesses need for, and facilitates referrals to community mental health resources
- Attends regular reflective supervision meetings with supervisor
- Attends regular group consultation and team meetings
- Documents services and referrals provided to staff, children, and families
- Works diligently to protect the confidentiality of staff, child, and family information, sharing information only when necessary in the performance of the job responsibilities or to improve an individual’s care
- Participates in the Health Services Advisory Committee meetings twice a year as mental health expert
- Participates in the monthly multidisciplinary team meetings for Head Start/Early Head Start children, as needed
- Provides individual and group staff support, problem solving, debriefing session in response to crisis or traumatic events
- Participates in program development, evaluation and improvement activities as needed
- Provides mental health training and education and develops resources on related topics for staff and families
- Provides input and feedback on the creation and implementation of mental health, trauma-informed, and substance misuse policies and procedures for children, staff and families
- Assists in the implementation of individualized plans created for all identified children, as needed
- Additional responsibilities as assigned by supervisor
Requirements:
- Minimum of Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling. Licensed or certified in the mental health field highly preferred.
- At least three years early childhood mental health knowledge and experience with trauma-informed care, preferred
- Strong relationship skills and commitment to promoting mental health
- Demonstrated ability to practice and model program’s philosophy
- Commitment to upholding the Agency’s mission, vision, and values
- Ability to meet all required Conditions of Employment according to Personnel Policies
- Commitment to successful outcomes for children and families
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and in speaking
- Strong analytical, organization, problem solving, and planning skills
- Ability to use technology for tracking, reporting, and monitoring systems
- Effective observation skills
- Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and speaking
- Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 20 lbs in order to assist children as needed and to move equipment and materials
- Valid driver’s license, car insurance and full time use of car
- Spanish bi-lingual, bi-cultural a plus
Benefits:
- Full Time
- Part Year: 6-8 weeks off over the summer (generally follows a school year calendar)
- Low cost/rich benefits
- Paid leave for sick and personal days
- Paid holidays
- Agency sponsored 401k retirement plan
